Synthesis and characterization of curcumin segmented polyurethane with induced antiplatelet activity

The main goal of this study is the synthesis of hemocompatible polyurethane elastomer containing curcumin by the reaction of poly(xi-caprolactone) (PCL), and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), which was chain extended with varying molar ratios of 1,4-butandiol (BDO), and curcumin. Molecular structure of the synthesized polyurethane was confirmed using FT-IR and (HNMR)-H-1 spectroscopy techniques. The effect of curcumin on characteristics of the synthesized polymers was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile testing, and also water contact angle measurement (WCA). The influence of curcumin on antiplatelet behavior of the curcumin extended elastomer was confirmed by static platelet adhesion (SPA) test and the number of the adhered platelets was determined using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, in comparison with the polymer extended solely with BDO. Thermal and mechanical properties as well as hydrophobicity are enhanced through increasing curcumin content. Overall, improvement in mentioned properties led to enhanced antiplatelet behavior of curcumin containing segmented PU elastomers (PUcs).