Synthesis and evaluation of novel absorptive and antibacterial polyurethane membranes as wound dressing

Preparation and evaluation of new polyurethane membranes for wound dressing application was considered in this work. The membranes were prepared through amine curing reaction of epoxy-terminated polyurethane prepolymers and an antibacterial epoxy-functional quaternary ammonium compound (glycidyltriehtylammonium chloride, GTEACl. To render the prepared membranes to be highly absorptive of wound exudates, poly (ethylene glycol) polyols were introduced into the polyurethane networks. Evaluation of biocompatibity via both MTT assay and direct contact with two different cell lines (fibroblast and epidermal keratinocytes) reveled that membranes with appropriate loading of GTEACl showed proper biocompatibility. Promising antibacterial activity of the prepared membranes against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria was confirmed by both agar diffusion and shaking flask methods. The membranes with balanced crosslink density and ionic groups' concentration possessed appropriate hydrophilicity and water vapor transmission rate; therefore, they could prevent the accumulation of exudates and decrease the surface inflammation in the wounded area.