One‐step formation of polyurea gel as a multifunctional approach for biological and environmental applications

This work presents a facile one‐pot fabrication of polyurea (PU) organogels based on polyetheramine (PEO, Jeffamine ED‐2003) and a crosslinker hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer (HDI) which were subsequently used as a drug carrier to incorporate a curcumin hydrophobic molecule in aqueous conditions and for removal of an anionic pollutant in water. PU can be obtained in different shapes with easy control of film thickness with high transparency, flexibility and homogeneous dispersion of curcumin in the matrix. Due to the hydrophilic nature of PEO a high swelling degree was demonstrated by the PU gel. The phase separated domains and the temperature's influence on the system's structural order/disorder were examined by small‐angle X‐ray scattering, showing a more PU ordered system (interface between hard and soft segments) after decreasing the temperature to −90 °C. The presence of curcumin in the structure of PU was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, photoluminescence and release studies. A highly efficient removal of Congo red dye from aqueous solution using PU as adsorbent was observed. Moreover, the effect of unloaded and curcumin‐loaded PU gels was evaluated on Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. Detailed in vitro cell viability experiments showed the biocompatibility of loaded and unloaded PU gels. The easy processability of the multifunctional PU shows that it has promising applications as transdermal and soft tissue implantable delivery devices for a large number of poorly water‐soluble drugs and as an efficient adsorbent for removal of organic dyes; it can also be used in the future in dermatological treatments against malignant melanoma. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry Polyurea can be applied in any form according to the need, as it demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and the possibility to be used as a drug carrier and for water treatment applications.