Characterization and biocompatibility of chestnut shell fiber–based composites with polyester

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe structural, mechanical, biocompatibility, and biodegradability properties of composite materials formed of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and natural fiber (chestnut shell fiber; CSF) were evaluated. Maleic anhydride‐grafted poly(butylene succinate) (PBS‐g‐MA) and treated (crosslinked) CSF (TCSF) were used to improve the mechanical properties of PBS/CSF composites. The results show that PBS‐g‐MA/TCSF composites have superior mechanical properties compared with both pure PBS and PBS/CSF composites, which is attributed to better compatibility between the polymer and TCSF. Normal human foreskin fibroblasts (FBs) were seeded onto these two series of composites to characterize the biocompatibility. FB proliferation, collagen production, and cytotoxicity assays on the PBS/CSF series of composites exhibited superior results compared with those on the PBS‐g‐MA/TCSF composites. PBS‐g‐MA/TCSF was found to be more water resistant than PBS/CSF, and the weight loss of both the composites buried in soil compost indicated that both were biodegradable, especially at high levels of CSF substitution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40730.