Waterborne Polyurethane for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Polyurethanes (PUs) are one of the most diverse classes of polymers due to their wide range of raw materials. PUs are available in various forms, including elastomers, coatings, dyes, fibers, adhesives, and foams. Excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability make PUs one of the most widely used polymers. However, controlling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in solvent-based PUs and reducing their toxicity are critical issues. In this regard, researchers designed and synthesized a greener alternative to solvent-based PUs, called waterborne polyurethane (WPU), to reduce cost and toxicity. WPU is a potential candidate for biomedical applications due to zero or extremely low amounts of organic solvents, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness. Tissue engineering, antibacterial coatings, wound dressings, and drug delivery are some of the most important areas of WPU biomedical applications. The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the methods of creating antibacterial properties in WPU coatings, as well as their applications in the synthesis of wound dressings and targeted drug delivery systems.