Nanocomposite foams based on flexible biobased thermoplastic polyurethane and ZnO nanoparticles as potential wound dressing materials

Publication date: November 2019Source: Materials Science and Engineering: C, Volume 104Author(s): Aleksandra Bužarovska, Sorina Dinescu, Andreea D. Lazar, Mirela Serban, Gratiela G. Pircalabioru, Marieta Costache, Chiara Gualandi, Luc AvérousAbstractIn the present study biobased and soft thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), obtained by polymerization from fatty acids, was used to produce TPU/ZnO nanocomposite foams by thermally induced phase separation method (TIPS). The produced foams were characterized and evaluated regarding their potential uses as wound dressing materials. The structure and morphology of the prepared flexible polymer foams with different content of ZnO nanofiller (1, 2, 5 and 10 wt% related to the polymer) were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Highly porous nanocomposite structure made of interconnected pores with dimensions between 10 and 60 μm was created allowing water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) up to 8.9 mg/cm2·h. The TPU/ZnO foams, tested for their ability to support cells and their growth, showed highest cell proliferation for TPU nanocomposite foams with 2 and 5 wt% ZnO. Overall, the nanocomposite foams displayed a low cytotoxic potential (varied proportionally to the ZnO content) and good biocompatibility. All tested nanocomposite foams were found to be significantly active against biofilms formed by different Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureu...
Source: Materials Science and Engineering: C - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research