Physicochemical characterisation and biological evaluation of polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine engineered polyurethane (Tecoflex^®)

Bacterial adhesion and encrustation are the known causes for obstruction or blockage of urethral catheters and ureteral stents, which often hinders their effective use within the urinary tract. In this in vitro study, polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) complex modified polyurethane (Tecoflex ®) systems were created by physically entrapping the modifying species during the reversible swelling of the polymer surface region. The presence of the PVP-I molecules on this surfaces were verified by ATR-FTIR, AFM and SEM-EDAX analysis, while wettability of the films was investigated by water contact angle measurements. The modified surfaces were investigated for its suitability as a urinary tract biomaterial by comparing its lubricity and ability to resist bacterial adherence and encrustation with that of base polyurethane. The PVP-I modified polyurethane showed a nanopatterned surface topography and was highly hydrophilic and more lubricious than control polyurethane. Adherence of both the gram positive Staphylococcus aureus (by 86%; **P < 0.01) and gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (by 80%; *P < 0.05) was significantly reduced on the modified surfaces. The deposition of struvite and hydroxyapatite the major components of urinary tract encrustations were significantly less on PVP-I modified polyurethane as compared to base polyurethane, especially reduction in hydroxyapatite encrustation was particularly marked. These results demonstrated that the PVP-I entrapment process can be applied on polyurethane in order to reduce/lower complications associated with bacterial adhesion and deposition of encrustation on polyurethanes. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.