title: Alginate based polyurethanes: A review of recent advances and perspective.
abstract: The trend of using biopolymers in combination with synthetic polymers was increasing rapidly from last two or three decades. Polysaccharide based biopolymers especially starch, cellulose, chitin, chitosan, alginate, etc. found extensive applications for different industrial uses, as they are biocompatible, biodegradable, bio-renewable resources and chiefly environment friendly. Segment block copolymer character of polyurethanes that endows them a broad range of versatility in terms of tailoring their properties was employed in conjunction with various natural polymers resulted in modified biomaterials. Alginate is biodegradable, biocompatible, bioactive, less toxic and low cost anionic polysaccharide, as a part of structural component of bacteria and brown algae (sea weed) is quite abundant in nature. It is used in combination with polyurethanes to form elastomers, nano-composites, hydrogels, etc. that especially revolutionized the food and biomedical industries. The review summarized the development in alginate based polyurethanes with their potential applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad 38030, Pakistan. Electronic address: ziakmpkpolym@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Khalid Mahmood
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad 38030, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad 38030, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad 38030, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad 38030, Pakistan. Electronic address: pioneeravian@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mirza Nadeem
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D011140:Polyurethanes; D002686:Chitin; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002482:Cellulose; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Alginates; Future perspectives; Hydrogels; Polyurethane; Recent advances