Progress in degradable polyurethane scaffolds with variable degradation rates for tissue engineering applications

Abstract Global catastrophic consequences associated with wars, natural disasters, and accidents are increasing day by day. Tissue engineering (TE) regenerate damaged tissues by using growth factors, cells, or three‐dimensional support biomaterials, that is, scaffolds. Scaffolds should degrade into resorbable, noncytotoxic, and excretable products in the physiological environment, along with successfully regenerating the damaged tissues. However, the requirement for scaffold degradation rate varies from patient to patient, depending on the nature, size, and cause of injuries. Thus, the synthesis and development of degradable scaffolds with focus toward variable degradation rates has become an engrossed research area. In this regard, multifunctional polymers such as polyurethane (PU) are suitable candidates. The degradation rate of PUs can be changed with the variations in the PU scaffold composition, such as the selection of the isocyanate, polyol, or the chain extender. This review will fill the research gap by analyzing the state‐of‐the‐art expansions of the degradable PU scaffolds with variable degradation rates based primarily on the selection and composition of polyol, isocyanate, and CE. It aims to guide the development of patient‐specific/customized scaffolds with appropriate scaffold degradation and tissue regeneration rates, along with the recommendations for future work. Highlights The requirement for scaffold degradation rate varies from patient to patient. There is a need to synthesize scaffolds with variable/tunable degradation rates. Multifunctional polymers such as polyurethanes (PUs) are suitable candidates. PUs degradation rate can be tuned via isocyanates, polyols and chain extenders.