Synthesis and characterization of waterborne polyurethane/Cu(II)-loaded hydroxyapatite nanocomposites with antibacterial activity.

A novel kind of environmentally friendly nanocomposites, waterborne polyurethane (WBPU)/Cu(II)-loaded hydroxyapatite (CuHAp), with improved physical properties and antibacterial activity have been prepared via in-situ polymerization from functionalized CuHAp nanoparticles (CuHAp NPs). The interaction of the CuHAp NPs with isophorone diisocyanate to form the functionalized CuHAp NPs containing isocyanate groups (CuHAp-g-NCO) has been studied. The microstructure and particle distribution of the nanocomposites were observed using scanning electron microscopy.