Enhanced Photoluminescence Effect of Poly(L-lactide) Biodegradable Polymer with Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Functionalization of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) for biological applications was considered. For this purpose, the pristine MWCNTs (pMWCNTs) are covalently aminated using p-amino benzoic acid and phosphoric acid without shortening of pMWCNTs. The grafted amine groups on the sidewall of pMWCNTs are useful as initiator for grafting of polymer chains on the sidewall of aminated MWCNTs (MWCNT-NH2). The PLLA homopolymer chains grafted covalently from the sidewall of aminated MWCNTs successfully. The FT-IR spectra revealed that the amine groups and the PLLA chains grafted form the sidewall of pMWCNTs strongly. The fluoroscopy test results shows that the pMWCNTs and aminated MWCNTs have not any significant photoluminescence (PL) effect at 350 nm excitation. The MWCNT-g-PLLAs exhibit an extremely strong visible emission at 404 nm and 429 nm. These results may be ascribed to the contribution of oxygen vacancies and defects at the end chain of grafted PLLA chains on the sidewall of MWCNTs that created by Sn atoms of initiator during polymerization on the sidewall of MWCNTs. The oxygen vacancies usually act as radiative centers in the PL process. In addition, The MWCNT-g-PLLAs enhance the PL of neat PLLA. The PL of composites slightly diminishes with blue shift during in-vitro degradation. As mentioned above, the MWCNT-g-PLLAs are the functionalized MWCNTs that applicable in the field of medicine. Due to biocompatible and biodegradable molecular groups on the sidewall of MWCNTs, it is predictable that the MWCNT-g-PLLAs will pass all exams for its application in medicine.