In tissue engineering, polyurethane-based implants have
gained
significant traction because of their high compatibility and inertness.
The implants therefore show fewer side effects and lasts longer. Also,
the mechanical properties can be tuned and morphed into a particular
shape, owing to which polyurethanes show immense versatility. In the
last 3 years, scientists have devised methods to enhance the strength
of and induce dynamic properties in polyurethanes, and these developments
offer an immense opportunity to use them in tissue engineering. The
focus of this review is on applications of polyurethane implants for
biomedical application with detailed analysis of hard tissue implants
like bone tissues and soft tissues like cartilage, muscles, skeletal
tissues, and blood vessels. The synthetic routes for the preparation
of scaffolds have been discussed to gain a better understanding of
the issues that arise regarding toxicity. The focus here is also on
concerns regarding the biocompatibility of the implants, given that
the precursors and byproducts are poisonous.