Polyurethane Innovations as Medical Materials
In this blog, we shall focus on the use of Polyurethane (PU) formulations in medical applications. Incidentally, I will be conducting a training course titled ‘Polyurethane Innovations as Medical Materials’ on January 23rd and 24th aimed at offering insightful details on the topic.
Polyurethanes are widely available polymers composed mainly of organic units joined by carbamate or urethane linkages. Polyurethanes are formed through the reaction of different monomers and hence are hetero polymers. They could be linear, branched, or cross-linked structures and therefore could either be thermoplastic or thermosetting in nature. The polyurethane group of materials is characterized by the presence of the urethane bond; formed by the reaction of the end groups of isocyanate and hydroxyl on the reacting molecules. Despite being called polyurethane, none of the monomers contain the urethane bond, and this bond is formed as a result of the reaction of the monomers. Polyurethanes can be said to be a material that defines the word "versatile." The structure property variation obtained in polyurethanes is such that it provides huge number of possibilities to the manufacturer. The properties of the polyurethane can range to extremes from soft touch coatings to rock hard rigid construction material.
The global polyurethane market size was estimated to be in excess of $70 billion in 2020 and is expected to clock an annual growth rate which is proportionate to the rest of the polymer market till 2030. Polyurethanes majorly find application in automotive, packaging, footwear, construction, furniture & interiors, and appliances sectors. Within all these applications, elastomers are expected to emerge as the fastest growing segment over the next 10 years. Elastomeric polyurethanes offer combined benefits of plastics & rubbers, enabling high flexibility, and impact & shock resistance for high performance applications. Many of the polyurethane elastomers tend to be thermoplastic in nature and are referred to as TPU. TPUs only account for a small percentage of the overall polyurethane market, estimated to have a market size of around $2 billion. The TPU market, however, is rapidly and significantly growing owing to its adaptability, elasticity, and mechanical property portfolio.
For polyurethanes to be used in medical applications, the property of biocompatibility is critical. A material is said to be biocompatible when the material does not elicit any undesirable response from the host upon coming in contact with the elements of the hosts' body. Therefore, by not generating any negative responses from the cellular or tissue structures, the material then allows the appropriate function of the implanted device that the material either makes up or supports.
Polyurethanes can also be formulated as biologically stable or biologically degradable. A biologically stable formulation is one that can resist the action of body fluids and not lose any functionality over time; this property makes them suitable for the construction of long-term implants. A biologically degradable formulation, on the other hand, can be broken down into easily digestible and harmless elements over time. This degradation can be programmed to occur at a specific time or upon a specific action, making biodegradable materials an attractive option in drug delivery and regenerative medicine.
The versatile nature of polyurethanes makes their use in medical applications very widespread from short-term implants as functional catheters to long-term implants as cardiac leads in life saving applications of heart rhythm management. They are used in different body organ systems, cardiac, neurology, orthopedic etc.
The live virtual training programme, scheduled for January 23 & 24, 2025, will focus on the nature of these materials, their safe application as medical materials, and their current and future uses. Register now!
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Author
Ajay D Padsalgikar (Ph.D. - California, USA)
Trainer, Polymerupdate Academy
