Mechanically Tunable Curcumin Incorporated Polyurethane Hydrogels as Potential Biomaterials

Abstract

We report here on the one-pot synthesis and characterization of curcumin incorporated polyethylene glycol−polyurethane (PU-CUR) hydrogels using PEG-4000, 4, 4′methylenebis (cyclohexyl isocyanate), curcumin in the presence of a cross-linker, 1,2,6 hexanetriol (HT). Besides the physical entrapment, curcumin also provides a partial crosslinking in the 3-D structure of the hydrogel. The degree of swelling in hydrogels could be controlled by varying the amount of HT as well as curcumin. The structural characterization of hydrogels was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. The wide-angle X-ray scattering studies revealed the existence of crystalline domains of PEG, and the small-angle X-ray scattering studies showed the presence of lamellar microstructures. Porous structure in the hydrogel was created by cryogenic treatment and lyophilization. Scanning electron microscopy and microcomputed tomography imaging of hydrogels showed the presence of interconnected pores. The mechanical strength of the hydrogels was measured using a universal testing machine. The observed tensile and breaking compression strengths for the equilibrium swollen gels were found to be in the range of 0.22−0.73 MPa and 1.65−4.6 MPa, respectively. Detailed in vitro biological experiments showed the biocompatibility of gels, cytostatic dosage of curcumin, selective toxicity toward cancer cell lines, and antibacterial property. These gels show promising applications as scaffolds and implants in tissue engineering.

Thermoresponsive Polyurethane Bearing Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) as Side Chain Without Polyol at Polymer Backbone Achieved Excellent Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Switching

“…In the synthesis, there is the advantage of liquid triol which is difficult to crystallize. Another research group has reported the synthesis of polyurethane hydrogels using 1,2,6‐hexanetriol as a liquid triol . In the ratio of crosslinker, PU‐Gly0.05 was not a completely formed gel because of the limitation of reactivity in the applied condition.…”

“…Recently, polyurethane hydrogels have attracted attention as a polymer design to overcome such challenges due to their biodegradability and excellent mechanical properties . Polyurethane hydrogels are designed and synthesized with diisocyanates, and crosslinkers.…”

One‐step formation of polyurea gel as a multifunctional approach for biological and environmental applications

“…Water (pH 5.8), acid (pH 1.2) and a basic phosphate buffered saline solution (pH 7.4) were used as aqueous medium and, at a predetermined time, the mass of swollen samples was precisely weighed on an electronic analytical balance. The water uptake ratio was calculated using the equation given in reference which relates the weight of the swollen and dried sample. The experiment was conducted with three independent samples; the results are presented as the data average.…”

“…The literature reports that hydrophobic curcumin could be used as a multi‐therapeutic agent, displaying a variety of biological and pharmacological properties such as anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic and schistosomal activities . Divakaran et al . produced hydrogels based on polyethylene glycol−polyurethane containing curcumin (PU‐CUR) as potential biomaterials.…”

A Robust, Tough and Multifunctional Polyurethane/Tannic Acid Hydrogel Fabricated by Physical-Chemical Dual Crosslinking

“…Li et al used 3,3 -disulfanediyldipropane-1,2-diol (DSO) as the second crosslinker for preparation of DC PEG-PU hydrogels, the highest value of tensile strength among these hydrogels was 0.25 MPa [33]. Divakaran et al also prepared a DC PEG-PU hydrogel with the tensile strength of 0.7 MPa and the breaking elongation of 284% at equilibrium swelling state, in which 1,2,6-hexanetriol and curcumin were used as crosslinkers [34]. These studies suggest that the DC PEG-PU hydrogels are able to be fabricated by using the polyhydroxy compound as the second crosslinking agent and the mechanical strength of obtained PEG-PU hydrogels is higher than the single crosslinked PEG-PU hydrogels, but their strength, stretchability and toughness need to be further improved.…”