Surface modified and medicated polyurethane materials capable of controlling microorganisms causing foot skin infection in athletes

► Foot odor and infection causing bacteria and fungus in athletes were isolated and identified. ► Porous hydrophobic surfaces of viscoelastic polyurethane sheets, having suitable material properties for application as cushion inserts in shoes, were modified into hydrophilic surfaces using hydrophilic polymers such as PEG, HEMA, PVA and chitosan through HMDI bridges. ► Silver sulfadiazine (SS) microparticles were incorporated on the surface modified PU sheets and studied for inhibitory effect on isolated microorganisms. ► Inhibition of growth of microbes were found to be good in vitro and attributed to release of hydrophilic polymers and SS.