Alginate based polyurethanes: A review of recent advances and perspective

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2015-08, Vol.79, p.377-387
• Main Authors: Zia, Khalid Mahmood, Zia, Fatima, Zuber, Mohammad, Rehman, Saima, Ahmad, Mirza Nadeem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alginates; Alginates - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biomimetic Materials - chemistry; Cellulose - chemistry; Chitin - chemistry; Chitosan - chemistry; Future perspectives; Glucuronic Acid - chemistry; Hexuronic Acids - chemistry; Humans; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - chemistry; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Polyurethane; Polyurethanes - chemical synthesis; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Recent advances
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.04.076

•Polysaccharide based biopolymers have potential array of commercial applications.•Alginate is biocompatible, bioactive, less toxic and low cost anionic polysaccharide.•Alginates in combination with polyurethanes form elastomers, nanocomposites, hydrogels, etc.•Alginate based polyurethane modernized the food and biomedical industries. The trend of using biopolymers in combination with synthetic polymers was increasing rapidly from last two or three decades. Polysaccharide based biopolymers especially starch, cellulose, chitin, chitosan, alginate, etc. found extensive applications for different industrial uses, as they are biocompatible, biodegradable, bio-renewable resources and chiefly environment friendly. Segment block copolymer character of polyurethanes that endows them a broad range of versatility in terms of tailoring their properties was employed in conjunction with various natural polymers resulted in modified biomaterials. Alginate is biodegradable, biocompatible, bioactive, less toxic and low cost anionic polysaccharide, as a part of structural component of bacteria and brown algae (sea weed) is quite abundant in nature. It is used in combination with polyurethanes to form elastomers, nano-composites, hydrogels, etc. that especially revolutionized the food and biomedical industries. The review summarized the development in alginate based polyurethanes with their potential applications.