Abstract
Bone-related diseases have been increasing worldwide, and several nanocomposites have been used to treat them. Among several nanocomposites, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-based nanocomposites are widely used in drug delivery and tissue engineering due to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, PHB use in bone tissue engineering is limited due to its inadequate physicochemical and mechanical properties. In the present work, we synthesized PHB-based nanocomposites using a nanoblend and nano-clay with modified montmorillonite (MMT) as a filler. MMT was modified using trimethyl stearyl ammonium (TMSA). Nanoblend and nano-clay were fabricated using the solvent-casting technique. Inspection of the composite structure revealed that the basal spacing of the polymeric matrix material was significantly altered depending on the loading percentage of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nano-clay. The PHB/OMMT nanocomposite displayed enhanced thermal stability and upper working temperature upon heating as compared to the pristine polymer. The dispersed (OMMT) nano-clay assisted in the formation of pores on the surface of the polymer. The pore size was proportional to the weight percentage of OMMT. Further morphological analysis of these blends was carried out through FESEM. The obtained nanocomposites exhibited augmented properties over neat PHB and could have an abundance of applications in the industry and medicinal sectors. In particular, improved porosity, non-immunogenic nature, and strong biocompatibility suggest their effective application in bone tissue engineering. Thus, PHB/OMMT nanocomposites are a promising candidate for 3D organ printing, lab-on-a-chip scaffold engineering, and bone tissue engineering.
Highlights
In the last 20 years, bone-related diseases such as bone infections, bone tumors, and bone loss have been increasing globally [1]
Different amounts of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) were added to a PHB solution, and a nanocomposite film was visible after solvent evaporation
PHB nanocomposites were successfully prepared by the incorporation of various loading wt% of OMMT using the solvent-casting method
Summary
In the last 20 years, bone-related diseases such as bone infections, bone tumors, and bone loss have been increasing globally [1]. Bone repair and regeneration is a complex process including osteoprogenitor cells proliferation and differentiation, matrix formation, and remodeling of the bone [2]. Various metal and ceramic-based materials have been developed for the treatment of bone diseases. Metallic and ceramic materials cannot be used due to various disadvantages such as the need of surgery to remove. Pharmaceuticals 2021, 14, 1163 the damaged bone [3]. Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering have attracted attention. A scaffold is composed of cells sources such as stem or precursor cells, a matrix that can support cell processed and provide mechanical support, and growth factors or hormones [4,5]. The design and fabrication of a scaffold with suitable properties are challenging
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