PGlu-Modified Nanocrystalline Cellulose Improves Mechanical Properties, Biocompatibility, and Mineralization of Polyester-Based Composites.

Mariia Stepanova,Tatiana Vinogradova,Natalya Blum,Mikhail Serdobintsev,Iosif Gofman,Evgenia Korzhikova-Vlakh,Mikko Karttunen,Yuliya Nashchekina,Ilia Averianov,Natalya Semenova,Viktor Korzhikov-Vlakh

doi:10.3390/ma12203435

Abstract

The development of biocompatible composite materials is in high demand in many fields such as biomedicine, bioengineering, and biotechnology. In this study, two series of poly (D,L-lactide) and poly (ε-caprolactone)-based films filled with neat and modified with poly (glutamic acid) (PGlu) nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were prepared. An analysis of scanning electron and atomic force microscopies’ results shows that the modification of NCC with poly (glutamic acid) favored the better distribution of the nanofiller in the polymer matrix. Investigating the ability of the developed materials to attract and retain calcium ions led to the conclusion that composites containing NCC modified with PGlu induced better mineralization from model solutions than composites containing neat NCC. Moreover, compared to unmodified NCC, functionalization with PGlu improved the mechanical properties of composite films. The subcutaneous implantation of these composite materials into the backs of rats and the further histological investigation of neighboring tissues revealed the better biocompatibility of polyester materials filled with NCC–PGlu.

Highlights

Aliphatic polyesters are one of the most widely used biodegradable polymers
Organic solvents that were used for polymer synthesis, modification, and the preparation of films were from Vecton
We have developed polyester-based materials filled with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC)–poly(glutamic acid) (PGlu), and demonstrated their improved mechanical characteristics compared to neat NCC as a filler

Summary

Introduction

Aliphatic polyesters are one of the most widely used biodegradable polymers. They have found a wide range of applications in fields such as food industry, surgery, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine [1]. One of the main reasons for their popularity is that the synthesis of aliphatic polyesters is simple, reproducible, and inexpensive at the industrial scale. Materials 2019, 12, 3435 characteristics can be tuned over a wide range. Aliphatic polyesters have become the most commercially competitive polymers. Biodegradable and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agency, and as a result, they are used in diverse applications in medicine [2]. Different materials designs include fibers, microparticles, nanoparticles, films, and porous scaffolds [3,4,5], and poly (lactic acid) and its copolymers with poly (glycolic acid)

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Results

Conclusion