Abstract
This work aimed to develop and evaluate the influence of processing variables on the morphology and swelling of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) spheres for possible applications as a biomaterial. We used the drip method to obtain spheres with the polymer starting solutions SPEEK-6 (w/v: 6%) and SPEEK-10 (w/v: 10%), drip rates (20 and 30 mL/h), and drip heights (5 and 10 cm) in experimental planning. The samples were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), optical microscopy (OM), the absorption capacity of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) by swelling (%), and statistical analysis of data through Design of Experiments (DOE). The obtained results evidenced that the processing variables influenced the morphology and swelling. Spheres with a bigger concentration of the polymer solution presented a greater degree of sulfonation (DS). We verified that the diameter of the spheres was directly related to the variable height and the sphericity was associated with the speed and viscosity of the solution. Bigger and more pores in a greater amount were observed in the spheres with a greater DS, influencing the behavior of the swelling in PBS. The better variable combinations with a high DS, regular sphericity, a smaller diameter, and greater swelling were the samples S2-10-20-5 e S10-10-20-5. The cytotoxicity indicated that the best samples obtained in the experimental planning (S2-10-20-5 and S10-10-20-5) were not toxic. In that regard, the evaluated spheres presented cell viability and swelling capacity, suggesting their possible applications as biomaterials.
Highlights
In the spectrum corresponding to PEEK, the following characteristic bands can be observed: 766, 834, and 925 cm–1
This allows us to evaluate the better combination of variables for a high degree of swelling and a smaller diameter
The sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) spheres were successfully obtained in an infusion pump with the drip technique
Summary
Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is thermoplastic a semicrystalline polymer in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) class [1,2]. The PEEK monomer is composed of an aromatic ring that is present along the chain and that alternates between an ether bond (–O–) and a ketone group (C=O). Ketone bonds are stronger than ether bonds, which implies material stiffness and restricts the polymer chain rotation. This results in high viscosity and an increase in the vitreous transition temperature (Tg ) and melt crystallization temperature (Tm ) [3]. The high glass transition temperature (Tg ) has hindered its processing [5,6,7]
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