Synthesis and applications of carbohydrate-based polyurethanes

OSCAR VARELA; VERÓNICA ELENA MANZANO; ADRIANA A. KOLENDER

Industrial Applications of Renewable Biomass products: Past, present and Future

Springer

Año: 2017; p. 1 - 43

Polyurethanes are one of the most important and widespread type of polymers which display a wide range of industrial and biomedical applications. The recent approaches and advances in polyurethane research involve the replacement of petro-based polyols and isocyanates with bio-based molecules. In this regard, carbohydrates offer a great promise due to their rich functionality, varied stereochemistry and renewable production on an impressive scale. The carbohydrate-based polyurethanes are also prone to be biodegradable and biocompatible. These type of materials may be entirely derived from carbohydrates or contain carbohydrates as pendant groups or as constituents of the soft part of the polymer. Artificial polymers prepared by combination of polysaccharides with synthetic monomers or polymers are also included. The synthesis of these materials is described, and their actual or potential applications (mostly in biomedicine, as implants for tissue repair, as permanent or temporary prosthesis or as drug delivery systems) are discussed.