Recent advance in antibacterial activity of nanoparticles contained polyurethane

Polyurethanes (PUs) are among the most widely used polymers with various applications in several industries. Antibacterial activity is an important feature of PU materials used in medical or many other related consumer products. They can, however, be easily colonized by bacteria and fungi, which may cause many problems for human health. It is therefore very important to enhance the antimicrobial properties of PUs, besides improving their chemical and physical properties. The incorporation of some antibacterial materials in the PUs' polymeric matrices is an effective strategy to improve their antibacterial activity. In this regard, the addition of some materials including Ag, Au, ZnO, and TiO₂ nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and chitosan to the PUs' material structure is reviewed in this article, and their antibacterial mechanisms are discussed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 46997.