Biomedical Polyurethanes for Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery Systems: A Brief, Comprehensive Review

Abstract

With the intensive development of polymeric biomaterials in recent years, research using drug delivery systems (DDSs) has become an essential strategy for cancer therapy. Various DDSs are expected to have more advantages in anti-neoplastic effects, including easy preparation, high pharmacology efficiency, low toxicity, tumor-targeting ability, and high drug-controlled release. Polyurethanes (PUs) are a very important kind of polymers widely used in medicine, pharmacy, and biomaterial engineering. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable PUs are a significant group of these biomaterials. PUs can be synthesized by adequately selecting building blocks (a polyol, a di- or multi-isocyanate, and a chain extender) with suitable physicochemical and biological properties for applications in anti-cancer DDSs technology. Currently, there are few comprehensive reports on a summary of polyurethane DDSs (PU-DDSs) applied for tumor therapy. This study reviewed state-of-the-art PUs designed for anti-cancer PU-DDSs. We studied successful applications and prospects for further development of effective methods for obtaining PUs as biomaterials for oncology.

Polyurethane Nanoparticles as Versatile Tools in Nanomedicine: A Review

“…Several processes are used to create PU, including the polyaddition method, in which ICs react with bifunctional or multifunctional polyamines, polyols, amines, and alcohols. In the same way, the PU is normally produced with the use of a polycondensation method that includes three elements: diisocyanate, polyols, and chain extenders …”

“…In the synthesis of PU, several different ICs are employed, including 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, bis­(2-isocyanate ethyl) disulfide, isophorone diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate (TDI), tetramethylene diisocyanate, and l -lysine diisocyanate ethyl ester. Polyols are synthetic polymers that typically contain two or more hydroxyl groups per molecule. − …”

“…Polyols include polyesters (such as poly­(caprolactone) and polylactide), polyethers (such as poly­(propylene glycol) and poly­(ethylene glycol)), and polycarbonates (such as poly­(ester carbonate)­s and poly­(trimethylene carbonate)), as well as cycle-based copolymers (such as glycolide and lactide) …”

Salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge: A potential antitumor agent

“…Gastric cancer also poses a great threat to human health ( Correa, 2013 ; Guggenheim and Shah, 2013 . The conventional clinical treatment remains surgery and chemotherapy ( Cosma et al, 2022 ) but the development of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs leads to failed recovery in most patients ( Jelski and Mroczko, 2022 ; Sobczak and Kędra, 2022 ). Therefore, research and development of new drugs are key to improving drug efficacy and prolonging patient survival.…”

Colorless, Transparent, and High-Performance Polyurethane with Intrinsic Ultraviolet Resistance and Its Anti-UV Mechanism

“…Compared with traditional UV protection materials, polyurethane (PU) has the advantages of high elasticity and good biocompatibility . Due to the diversity of formulations and outstanding performance, PU has been widely used in various fields of industry and life, such as biomedicine, auto parts, sports equipment, films, pipes, etc. − However, prolonged UV irradiation could cause yellowing, cracking, bubbling, and peeling of PU, shortening the service life of PU . Therefore, research on improving the UV resistance of PU is of great significance.…”