PEG-Dependent Tunable Degradation and Curcumin Release from Curcumin-Based Biomedical Polyurethanes

    April 2026 in “ Biomolecules ”
    Man Wang, H L Liu, Wei Zhao, Huafen Wang, Yuwei Zhuang, Ran Zhang, Zhaohui Liu, 柯能文, Sichong Chen
    TLDR Curcumin-based polyurethanes with more PEG improve curcumin release and maintain strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
    The study develops curcumin-based biomedical polyurethanes (Cur-PU) with tunable degradation and curcumin release properties by varying polyethylene glycol (PEG) content. Higher PEG content enhances hydrophilicity, swelling, and curcumin release rates. The Cur-PU materials exhibit excellent antioxidant and antibacterial activities, particularly against S. aureus, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 125 μg/mL. The films show pH-dependent degradation, with faster degradation in alkaline conditions, and demonstrate strong hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. The study highlights the potential of Cur-PU films for biomedical applications, offering controlled curcumin release and improved bioavailability.
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