Hybrid films based on nonisocyanate polyurethanes with antimicrobial activity

The demand for polymeric materials based on renewable resources has increased in recent decades due to growing awareness of the environmental impact of the human activity. Among the most relevant negative impacts is the one caused by emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These emissions have increased despite national and transnational efforts to mitigate their emission. Conventional polyurethanes (PUs) for foams, adhesives, coatings, lacquers, elastomers, and implants are produced on a large scale by using several kinds of polyols and hazardous (poly)isocyanates. Handling reactive isocyanate and derivative products requires strict safety provisions. Thus it is highly desirable to improve or even replace processes and products based on such volatile isocyanate moieties. Such an approach may be followed by developing safer material and technologies. This chapter aims to review the most significant studies regarding the production of the so-called nonisocyanate PUs and organic-inorganic hybrid PUs and their numerous uses as coating or bulk material for medical applications.