Fabrication and Characterization of Polyurethane Foam for Wound Dressing

Polyurethane (PU) prepolymer was synthesized from ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) random polyether polyol, toluene diisocyanate and chain extender such as ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol. PU foams having various compositions were fabricated from PU prepolymers with different hard segment contents (%) and mixed foaming solution of different compositions. PU foam from chain extender-introduced PU prepolymer and mixed foaming solution containing glycerin showed better mechanical property than other groups. Various PU foams were tested on their mechanical property, moisture vapor transmission rate, absorption speed, absorptivity, morphology and cell culture Lest. According to the test, the PU foam fabricated from chain extender-introduced PU prepolymer and mixed foaming solution containing optimum composition of F-68, glycerin and CMC was found to have the best property for wound dressing materials. From in vivo animal study, it was confirmed that above PU foam showed rapid wound recovery.