Synthesis, spectroscopic, and thermal properties of polyurethanes containing zwitterionic sulfobetaine groups

A series of novel polyurethanes (PUs) containing zwitterionic sulfobetaine groups were synthesized from polycarbonatediol with alkyne groups and 3-((2-azidoethyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate using the copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click) reaction. All the polyurethanes were fully characterized by H-1 NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, gel permeation chromatography, and elemental analysis; the thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. It has been proved that the thermal stability of zwitterionic sulfobetaine functionalized polyurethanes were greater than the starting alkyne-containing polyurethane. Protein adsorption was measured and it was indicated that PUs with zwitterionic sulfobetain structure are a kind of biocompatible materials with a better anti-protein fouling property compared to the corresponding alkyne-containing polyurethanes.