Sustainable Quercetin@Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes as Semi-TCFsAnd/Or 3D Printing Inks in Presence of Gelatin

Abstract

Semi-Transparent conductive films (semi-TCFs) were fabricated from sustainable onion quercetin and functionalized carbon nanotubes (F-CNTs) in presence of different metal ion crosslinking agents via layer-by-layer technique. Moreover, 3D printing inks and injectable hydrogels were fabricated from sustainable onion quercetin and functionalized carbon nanotubes (F-CNTs) in presence gelatin. Synthesis and characterization of sustainable quercetin and functionalized CNTs were performed using spectroscopic, thermal, microscopic techniques; 1H-NMR, and ATR-FTIR for chemical structure, XRD for crystal structure, TGA and DTG for thermal stability, and SEM for morphologic nanostructure. Layer-by-layer semi-TCFs were fabricated in presence of crosslinking agent of metal ions like Ca2+, Ti2+, Sn2+, and Fe3+ ions, where transmittance was in the range of 41-67%, sheet resistance in 17-1567 kΩ/sq, and σdc/σop in 0.0005-0.02 range, which undoubtly confirm their semi-TCFs characteristics. Optimum performance of single-layer F-CNTs semi-TCFs was as follows; transmittance= 46.6%, sheet resistance= 6.5 kΩ/sq, and σdc/σop= 0.06. On the other hand, 3D printing ink of sustainable quercetin and Functionalized CNTs in presence of gelatin was fabricated. Semi-Interpenetrating network hydrogel was verified through spectroscopic ATR-FTIR technique. The injectable hydrogel showed promising characteristics of robustness, elasticity, anti-microbial activity, biocompatibility with human body, and stretchable low cost that adapt them to be successfully employed in biomedical and surgical applications.