Engineering of functionalized carbon nano-onions reinforced nanocomposites: Fabrication, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties

Narsimha Mamidi,Alex Elías Zúníga,Marcelo Renato Martínez Gamero,Javier Villela Castrejón,Ramiro Manuel Velasco Delgadillo

doi:10.1557/jmr.2020.23

Abstract

Poly 4-mercaptophenyl methacrylate-carbon nano-onions ((PMPMA-CNOs = f-CNOs) were reinforced with polycaprolactone (PCL) to produce PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites using probe sonication. The physicochemical properties of nanocomposites were systematically studied to analyze cell viability and proliferation. In vitro cytotoxicity of PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites was measured with osteoblast cells, and improved cell viability was observed. The cytotoxicity of f-CNOs to osteoblasts was dose-dependent, and PCL/f-CNO (0.5 wt%) nanocomposites showed more than 90% of viability as compared to pristine PCL. Similarly, PCL/f-CNO (0.5 wt%) nanocomposites showed substantial enhancement in mechanical properties. The yield strength, tensile strength, Young modulus, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness were also upgraded at high content of f-CNOs (0.5 wt%). The concentration of f-CNOs considerably influenced the strengthening of PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites, which shows its degree of colloidal dispersion stability and extent of polymer wrapping within the PCL matrix. Nevertheless, these nontoxic PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites can be used as promising biomaterials for orthopedic applications.

Highlights

Biodegradable medical-grade biomaterials have received immense attention in recent times due to their potential applications as cardiovascular interventional devices and orthopedic implants [1, 2]
To achieve good physicochemical properties of f-Carbon nano-onions (CNOs)–based nanocomposites, it is primarily vital to disperse the CNO particles throughout the polymer matrix uniformly, which is achieved in the current study by using the probe sonication method
4-mercaptophenyl methacrylate-carbon nano-onions reinforced PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites were successfully fabricated using probe sonication followed by hydraulic pressing

Summary

Introduction

Biodegradable medical-grade biomaterials have received immense attention in recent times due to their potential applications as cardiovascular interventional devices and orthopedic implants [1, 2]. The most commonly used materials for bone fracture fixation are 316L stainless steel, cobalt–chromiumbased alloys, titanium alloys, and various polymers [3, 4]. The foremost desirable characteristic of implantable materials is their degradability after the bone has healed. The above metals are nondegradable, and cause the risk of local inflammation and, premature replacement of implants [5]. Biodegradable polymers have been investigated to reduce such complications [6]. In this context, polymer-based biodegradable biomaterials including poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)

Methods

Results

Conclusion