Abstract
Several studies of biodegradable polymers and copolymers have been carried for different applications in the biomedical area. This current study aims to develop a biocomposite to be used as an orthopedic device, using poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) P(HB-HV), a biodegradable copolymer, with 94%HB and 6%HV, as matrix; and nanodiamonds (ND) with primary grains of 4-6nm, as reinforcement. The nanodiamonds were previously encapsulated by P(HB-HV) and specimens were prepared using a hydraulic press and injection molding machine, in order to evaluate which method presents a better performance. Thermal and mechanical analyses were done to compare their behavior. The biocomposite and pure P(HB-HV) samples were analyzed by flexural testing, nanoidentation, DMA, XRD, TGA. The distribution of nanodiamonds on the specimen fracture surface were investigated by SEM. The SEM micrographs allowed us to concluded that the encapsulation of nanodiamonds by P(HB-HV) was successfully performed, promoting a better interface and distribution in the polymeric matrix. The presence of ND in the polymeric matrix decreased the P(HB-HV) crystallinity, inhibiting the crystallite growth. The mechanical properties obtained from flexural test, nanoidentation and DMA of the injection-molded specimens were superior to compression-molded, due to its homogeneous and continuous structure. In vitro analysis was performed to evaluate the samples cytoxicity.
Highlights
Biomaterials are used to partly or totally replace the functions of a living tissue in a human body that has been damaged or traumatized[1,2]
To remove any impurities of the biosynthesized P(HB-HV), it went through a purification process in chloroform under reflux and precipitated in ethyl alcohol
In an attempt to improve the dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix, the nanodiamonds were encapsulated by P(HB-HV)
Summary
Biomaterials are used to partly or totally replace the functions of a living tissue in a human body that has been damaged or traumatized[1,2]. They can be natural or artificially made[1], which in many cases combining two or more materials to form a composite. Several studies have been done with biodegradable and biocompatible polymers and copolymers for different industries and the biomedical area. Biodegradable polymers are potential candidates to be used as biomaterials, which some possible applications are: drug-delivery vehicle, scaffolds for bone regeneration and orthopedic devices[3]. Some of the routes to solve this problem are to blend it with other polymers[9,10], synthetize copolymers[11] add plasticizers[12], or develop a composite[6]
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