Comprehensive Study on the Reinforcement of Electrospun PHB Scaffolds with Composite Magnetic Fe3O4-rGO Fillers: Structure, Physico-Mechanical Properties, and Piezoelectric Response.

Abstract

This is a comprehensive study on the reinforcement of electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) scaffolds with a composite filler of magnetite-reduced graphene oxide (Fe3O4-rGO). The composite filler promoted the increase of average fiber diameters and decrease of the degree of crystallinity of hybrid scaffolds. The decrease in the fiber diameter enhanced the ductility and mechanical strength of scaffolds. The surface electric potential of PHB/Fe3O4-rGO composite scaffolds significantly increased with increasing fiber diameter owing to a greater number of polar functional groups. The changes in the microfiber diameter did not have any influence on effective piezoresponses of composite scaffolds. The Fe3O4-rGO filler imparted high saturation magnetization (6.67 ± 0.17 emu/g) to the scaffolds. Thus, magnetic PHB/Fe3O4-rGO composite scaffolds both preserve magnetic properties and provide a piezoresponse, whereas varying the fiber diameter offers control over ductility and surface electric potential.