Fabrication and In Vitro Biological Assay of Thermo-Mechanically Tuned Chitosan Reinforced Polyurethane Composites

Abstract

The progressive trend of utilizing bioactive materials constitutes diverse materials exhibiting biocompatibility. The innovative aspect of this research is the tuning of the thermo-mechanical behavior of polyurethane (PU) composites with improved biocompatibility for vibrant applications. Polycaprolactone (CAPA) Mn = 2000 g-mol−1 was used as a macrodiol, along with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), to develop prepolymer chains, which were terminated with 1,4 butane diol (BD). The matrix was reinforced with various concentrations of chitosan (1–5 wt%). Two series of PU composites (PUT/PUH) based on aromatic and aliphatic diisocyanate were prepared by varying the hard segment (HS) ratio from 5 to 30 (wt%). The Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the absence of an NCO peak at 1730 cm−1 in order to confirm polymer chain termination. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed optimum weight loss up to 500 °C. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed the complex modulus (E*) ≥ 200 MPa. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) proved the ordered structure and uniform distribution of chain extender in PU. The hemolytic activities were recorded up to 15.8 ± 1.5% for the PUH series. The optimum values for the inhibition of biofilm formation were recorded as 46.3 ± 1.8% against E. coli and S. aureus (%), which was supported by phase contrast microscopy.

Non-soluble antibacterial polyurethane based on cation mechanism and functionalized by chitosan and heparin azide

“…Kara et al added silver ions onto the surface of PU-chitosan films and the antibacterial rates were 27% and 54% [32]. Akram et al prepared chitosan/PU composites and the antibacterial rates were 45% and 42% [33]. Drozd et al prepared PU coated with chitosan/heparin and the antibacterial rates were 53% and 51%, respectively [16].…”

Investigation of the in vitro biological activities of polyethylene glycol-based thermally stable polyurethane elastomers

“… 30 Akram et al have reported on the fabrication of chitosan-reinforced polyurethanes. 31 Marta and coworkers have reported on the properties, modification and applications of banana starch. 32 Jana and coworkers have provided details about the wheat starch structure–function relationship in bread making.…”