Structural elucidation and biological aptitude of modified hydroxyethylcellulose-polydimethyl siloxane based...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Polyurethanes (PUs) are versatile polymers with broad applications.
• Modifying PUs with specific grafts can enhance their biological properties.
• Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) are common biomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize poly(lactic acid) grafted hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC-g-PLA).
• To incorporate HEC-g-PLA into PDMS-based polyurethanes.
• To evaluate the biological properties of the resulting blended polyurethanes.

Main Methods:

• HEC was grafted with lactic acid (LA) to form HEC-g-PLA.
• PDMS-based polyurethanes were synthesized using HEC-g-PLA as a chain extender.
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and proton solid-state NMR (¹H SS NMR) were used for characterization.
• Biological activities, including antibacterial and biocompatibility, were assessed.

Main Results:

• Optimal grafting conditions for HEC-g-PLA were determined (59.5% grafting, 0.74 degree of substitution).
• Characterization confirmed the successful synthesis and incorporation of HEC-g-PLA.
• PDMS/HEC-g-PLA blends showed improved antibacterial activity and anti-biofilm inhibition.
• Enhanced biocompatibility and non-mutagenicity were observed in the synthesized biomaterials.

Conclusions:

• HEC-g-PLA/PDMS blended polyurethanes demonstrate significantly improved biological performance.
• These novel biomaterials hold promise for diverse biomedical applications.
• The modification strategy offers a pathway to advanced functional biomaterials.