Surface Immobilization of Oxidized Carboxymethyl Cellulose on Polyurethane for Sustained Drug Delivery

Abstract Polyurethane (PU) has a diverse array of customized physical, chemical, mechanical, and structural characteristics, rendering it a superb option for biomedical applications. The current study involves modifying the polyurethane surface by the process of aminolysis (aminolyzed polyurethane; PU‐A), followed by covalently immobilizing Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) polymer utilizing Schiff base chemistry. Oxidation of CMC periodically leads to the creation of dialdehyde groups along the CMC chain. When the aldehyde groups on the OCMC contact the amine group on a modified PU surface, they form an imine bond. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques are employed to analyze and confirm the immobilization of OCMC on aminolyzed PU film (PU‐O). The OCMC gel incorporates Nitrofurantoin (NF) and immobilizes it on the PU surface (PU‐ON), creating an antibacterial PU surface. The confirmation of medication incorporation is achieved using EDX analysis. The varying doses of NF have demonstrated concentration‐dependent bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects on both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, in addition to sustained release. The proposed polyurethane (PU‐ON) surface exhibited excellent infection resistance in in vivo testing. The material exhibited biocompatibility and is well‐suited for biomedical applications.