Biocompatible Nanocomposites Based on Poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) and Carbon Nanotubes for Biomedical Application.

Maria A Rezvova,Miraslau I Makarevich,Tatiana V Glushkova,Evgeny A Ovcharenko,Mariam Yu Khanova,Sergei V Kostjuk,Pavel A Nikishau,Vera G Matveeva,Kirill Yu Klyshnikov,Arseniy E Yuzhalin

doi:10.3390/polym12092158

Maria A Rezvova, Miraslau I Makarevich + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12092158

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Journal: Polymers	Publication Date: Sep 22, 2020
Citations: 16	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Belarusian State University, Kemerovo State University

Abstract

In this study, we incorporated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS) to investigate the physical characteristics of the resulting nanocomposite and its cytotoxicity to endothelial cells. CNTs were dispersed in chloroform using sonication following the addition of a SIBS solution at different ratios. The resultant nanocomposite films were analyzed by X-ray microtomography, optical and scanning electron microscopy; tensile strength was examined by uniaxial tension testing; hydrophobicity was evaluated using a sessile drop technique; for cytotoxicity analysis, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on SIBS–CNTs for 3 days. We observed an uneven distribution of CNTs in the polymer matrix with sporadic bundles of interwoven nanotubes. Increasing the CNT content from 0 wt% to 8 wt% led to an increase in the tensile strength of SIBS films from 4.69 to 16.48 MPa. The engineering normal strain significantly decreased in 1 wt% SIBS–CNT films in comparison with the unmodified samples, whereas a further increase in the CNT content did not significantly affect this parameter. The incorporation of CNT into the SIBS matrix resulted in increased hydrophilicity, whereas no cytotoxicity towards endothelial cells was noted. We suggest that SIBS–CNT may become a promising material for the manufacture of implantable devices, such as cardiovascular patches or cusps of the polymer heart valve.

Highlights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death globally [1]
carbon nanotubes (CNTs) representing the coiled layers of graphene can be a promising material for the manufacture of implantable devices, owing to their flexibility and high tensile strength of about 50–150 GPa [14]
We reported that CNT-modified SIBS films demonstrate an improved tensile strength and electrical conductivity without being cytotoxic to endothelial cells in vitro

Summary

Introduction

Medical devices manufactured from polymer materials are increasingly used in the clinic to replace dysfunctional tissues and organs [2,3] Despite their generally high functionality and biocompatibility, such materials frequently require additional modification [4]; for example, the incorporation of nanoparticles can substantially change the structure of a polymer and improve its properties [5,6]. Polymers 2020, 12, 2158 implantable medical devices [7,8], owing to their extraordinary high tensile strength which is attributed to the special organization of carbon atoms in a two-dimensional hexagonal grid [9] Such cellular structure is characteristic of graphene and other allotropic modifications of carbon with sp hybridization such as fullerene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs representing the coiled layers of graphene can be a promising material for the manufacture of implantable devices, owing to their flexibility and high tensile strength of about 50–150 GPa [14]

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