Biocompatibility Of Nanocomposites Research Articles

Nanoengineering of Lanthanide‐Doped BaGdF5‐Graphene Oxide as a Tunable‐Nanocomposite Platform for Biological Applications

AbstractInorganic nanohosts doped with lanthanide ions are an indispensable tool for multimodal bioimaging and MRI applications due to their distinctive optical, magnetic, and biocompatible properties. Nanocomposites of such nanoprobes with functionalization capabilities could also enable their use in targeted therapy‐based applications. However, the influence of nanocomponents especially their proportion in a nanocomposite in modulating the physio‐chemical and biocompatibility properties of the nanocomposite is still elusive. To address this knowledge gap, we have engineered nanocomposites variants using an environmentally benign one‐step synthesis with ionic liquids. We have synthesized two nanocomposites, differing in the proportion of lanthanide‐doped ternary fluoride nanoparticles (as nanophase material with luminescent and magnetic traits) and graphene oxide (as host matrix phase with tunable functionalization potential for theranostics applications). We found that with increased GO nanomaterial, nanocomposites showed reduced crystallite size and photoluminescence properties without significantly affecting the magnetic traits. Thus, implying nanocomponents ratio has differential effect on the nanocomposite properties. To assess biocompatibility, we have employed sensitive biomarkers such as craniofacial development, cardiac rhythm, and overall survivability of zebrafish larvae. Remarkably, biocompatibility improved when the proportion of the GO was increased within the nanocomposite as compared to when the nanocomponents were assessed individually. Our results also revealed that biocompatibility of nanocomposites also depends on the synergistic interplay between the nanocomponents due to the spatial arrangement of each nanocomponent in the nanocomposites. Overall, our study offers an intriguing avenue for tuning the biocompatibility of such nanocomposites, rendering them as an application‐independent biocompatible‐platform for theranostics applications.

Biocompatibility of Poly-Lactic Acid/Nanohydroxyapatite/Graphene Nanocomposites for Load Bearing Bone Implants

In this study, poly-lactic acid (PLA), nanohydroxyapatite (NHA), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) were blended to develop a nanocomposite material suitable for load-bearing bone implants with the potential for strain-sensing applications. The tensile properties and impact strength of the PLA-NHA nanocomposite were analyzed, as these are crucial biomechanical properties for load-bearing and strain-sensing applications. It was found that the impact strength decreased by 7.9% (0.05 wt% GNP) and 25.7% (0.1 wt% GNP) with increasing GNP loading compared to 0.01 wt% GNP. Besides, the biocompatibility of nanocomposites (PLA-NHA, PLA-mNHA, and PLA-mNHA-GNP) was evaluated through in-vitro analysis by attaching MG63 cells to the nanocomposites and observing their proliferation and differentiation over 7 and 21 days of incubation. The biocompatibility of the prepared nanocomposites was determined based on their ability to attach with MG63 cells, thus allowing the cells to proliferate and enhance their ability to differentiate. Results showed that the PLA-5wt%NHA nanocomposite provided better cell spreading compared to pure PLA, while the PLA-5wt%mNHA nanocomposite had the highest rate of cell proliferation. The biocompatibility of the nanocomposites was further confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) imaging, MTT assays, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays.

Varying Doses of Rare-Earth-Metal-Based Neodymium Zirconate Zinc Sulfide Nanocomposite Disrupt Blood and Serum Parameters, as well as Markers of Oxidative Stress in the Selected Organs of Albino Mice

Despite extensive industrial use, the biocompatibility of nanocomposites has not been extensively explored. The present study was designed to report the effect of variable doses of a newly synthesized nanocomposite, Neodymium Zirconate Zinc Sulfide, on selective serum and complete blood count parameters and on the oxidative stress markers from the vital organs of albino mice. Albino mice (C57BL/6 strain, 5 weeks old) of both sexes were orally treated for 11 days, either with 10 mg (low dose) or 20 mg/mL saline/kg body weight (high dose) of Neodymium Zirconate Zinc Sulfide nanocomposite. A control group that was not treated with the nanocomposite but with saline solution was also maintained. Data analysis revealed that high-dose nanocomposite-treated male mice had significantly reduced hemoglobin concentration as compared to the control males. Female mice treated with both doses of nanocomposite had higher serum triglyceride levels than controls. High-dose-treated female mice had elevated serum cholesterol concentration compared to their saline-treated controls. Oxidative stress marker analysis from selected organs indicated that concentrations of malonaldehyde (MDA) in the kidney and liver, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and catalase in the kidney of male mice treated with the nanocomposite were significantly higher than in the control group, whereas SOD in the heart, MDA in the heart and kidney and catalase levels in the kidney were significantly disrupted in female mice compared to their respective controls.

Nanocomposites based on biocompatible polymers and graphene oxide for antibacterial coatings

Recently, antibacterial coatings based on graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites have attracted many studies around the world. The use of polymers as the matrices of GO nanofillers in the nanocomposites has been explored to produce efficient coatings against bacteria. One of the most prospective applications is the incorporation of GO into biocompatible polymers, which can produce antibacterial coatings. Here, recent progresses on the antibacterial coatings of nanocomposites based on biocompatible polymers and GO are reviewed. The effect of GO filler concentrations, biocide materials, and biocompatibility are discussed to find the most efficient antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of nanocomposites. Among biocompatible polymers, chitosan (Cs), poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), and poly lactic acid (PLA) are the most popular matrices used for the nanocomposites. This review also elaborates challenges in the use of other biocompatible polymers. Future works on biocompatible antibacterial coatings should be conducted by considering the concentration of GO nanofillers or adding other materials such as essential oils to suppress the toxicity toward functional cells.

Fabrication and biocompatibility assessment of polypyrrole/cobalt(II) metal-organic frameworks nanocomposites.

Nowadays, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising tools for different biological applications and therefore, efforts are ongoing to develop more biocompatible MOFs-based nanocomposites. We aimed to fabricate some new conductive nanocomposites of polypyrrole and cobalt-MOF with different weight percentages (PPy/x%Co-MOF) using the solution mixing method and characterize them through FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared), PXRD (powder X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), and TEM (transmission electron microscope) techniques. The biocompatibility of nanocomposites was assessed by haemolytic, cytotoxic, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. FT-IR and PXRD results revealed that nanocomposites consisted of pure MOFs and PPy. Moreover, SEM results indicated their spherical morphology along with an average diameter of 190 nm. (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed a concentration, and percentagedependent cytotoxic effect of the nanocomposites on some cell lines including 3T3 fibroblasts, MCF-7, and J774.A1 macrophages. Haematological toxicity of PPy/x%Co-MOF composites was less than 7% in most concentrations. Furthermore, PPy/x%Co-MOF composites did not show any significant effect on the expression of cyclooxygenase−2( COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase( iNOS) genes. In sum, regarding the haemolytic, proinflammatory, and cytotoxic tests, prepared nanocomposite demonstrated the reasonable in vitro biocompatibility which may be considered as a hopeful platform for further investigations including clinical applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Acrylic Acid)/Organo-Modified Nanohydroxyapatite Nanocomposites: Thermal, Optical and Biocompatibility Properties

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the structural, thermal, optical and biocompatibility properties of poly(acrylic acid)(PAA)/organo-modified nanohydroxyapatite (OM-nHAp) nanocomposites synthesized by solvent intercalation method. The characterization of PAA/OM-nHAp nanocomposites was made by different techniques. SEM and TEM results showed that OM-nHAp particles were dispersed in the nanoscale into PAA matrix and that they were uniformly distributed within film. Glass transition temperature of PAA increased with OM-nHAp content. Ultraviolet (UV) absorbance experiments showed that PAA had a higher UV transmission than its nanocomposites. The biocompatibility of nanocomposites was also examined in simulated body fluid.

Effect of TiO2 Nanofiller Concentration on the Mechanical, Thermal and Biological Properties of HDPE/TiO2 Nanocomposites

The necessity for advanced and effective biomimetic tissue engineering materials has increased massively as bone diseases such as osteoporosis and bone cancer have become a major public health problem. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles-enriched high-density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposites that could serve as potential biomaterials. HDPE/TiO2 nanocomposites with varying TiO2 nanoparticles content were fabricated by using injection molding technique and were subjected to mechanical, thermal and biological characterization. SEM–EDS analysis confirmed even dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles into the HDPE matrix. It was observed from the mechanical testing that the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to HDPE noticeably improved the stiffness (from 345 to 378 MPa) while maintaining almost similar yield strength of pure HDPE. The thermal analyses revealed that TiO2 nanoparticles inclusion to HDPE matrix enhanced the thermal stability of nanocomposites, as the overall rate of crystallization increased by almost 4%. Furthermore, biocompatibility of nanocomposites was also studied by means of various cell culture experiments; human osteoblasts (hFOB) were seeded on the HDPE/TiO2 nanocomposites and were visualized through SEM after 72 h of incubation; surface morphology revealed normal cell growth and spreading with more attachment on PNC-10 that contains 10 wt.% of TiO2. Moreover, cell viability assays (i.e., MTT and cell attachment) revealed consistent increase in cell count and metabolic activity when triplicate cultures were incubated for 1, 3 and 7 days.

Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine-Coated Lanthanide Nanoparticles for NIR-II/CT Dual Imaging and Photothermal Therapy.

Nanomedicine has attracted substantial attention for the accurate diagnosis or treatment of carcinoma in recent years. Nd3+-doped lanthanide nanophosphor-based near-infrared-II (NIR-II) optical imaging is widely used for deep penetration tissue imaging while X-ray computed tomography (CT) is well-suited for in vivo imaging. Polymer-coated lanthanide nanophosphors are increasingly used in both diagnostics and therapies for tumor in vivo. However, the biocompatibility of nanocomposites and the efficiency of tumor ablation should be taken into consideration when constructing a nanotheranostic probe. In this article, we have fabricated polydopamine (PDA)-coated NaYF4:Nd3+@NaLuF4 nanocomposites using the reverse microemulsion approach. The thickness of the PDA shell can be precisely modulated from ∼1.5 to ∼18 nm, endowing the obtained NaYF4:Nd3+@NaLuF4@PDA with an excellent colloidal stability and considerable biocompatibility. The photothermal conversion efficiency of the resultant nanocomposites was optimized and maximized by the increase of the PDA shell thickness. Because of the remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency, the mice xenograft tumors were completely eradicated after NIR irradiation. Given the considerable photoluminescence and X-ray attenuation efficiency, the performance of NaYF4:Nd3+@NaLuF4@PDA for NIR-II optical imaging and X-ray CT dual imaging of the tumor in vivo was evaluated. All of the results above highlight the great potential of PDA-based NaYF4:Nd3+@NaLuF4 nanocomposites as a novel multifunctional nanotheranostic agent.

Synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility evaluation of hydroxyapatite - gelatin polyLactic acid ternary nanocomposite

Objective(s): The current study reports the production and biocompatibility evaluation of a ternary nanocomposite consisting of HA, PLA, and gelatin for biomedical application.Materials and Methods: Hydroxyapatite nanopowder (HA: Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) was produced by burning the bovine cortical bone within the temperature range of 350-450 oC followed by heating in an oven at 800. Synthesis of the ternary nanocomposite was carried out in two steps: synthesis of gelatin-hydroxyapatite binary nanocomposite and addition of poly lactic acid with different percentages to the resulting composition. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while major elements and impurities of hydroxyapatite were identified by elemental analysis of X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Functional groups were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Morphology and size of the nanocomposites were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM).Biocompatibility of nanocomposites was investigated by MTT assay. Results: XRD patterns verified the ideal crystal structure of the hydroxyapatite, which indicated an appropriate synthesis process and absence of disturbing phases. Results of FTIR analysis determined the polymers’ functional groups, specified formation of the polymers on the hydroxyapatite surface, and verified synthesis of nHA/PLA/Gel composite. FESEM images also indicated the homogeneous structure of the composite in the range of 50 nanometers. MTT assay results confirmed the biocompatibility of nanocomposite samples.Conclusion: This study suggested that the ternary nanocomposite of nHA/PLA/Gel can be a good candidate for biomedical application such as drug delivery systems, but for evaluation of its potential in hard tissue replacement, mechanical tests should be performed.

Structure–properties investigations in hydrophilic nanocomposites based on polyurethane/poly(2–hydroxyethyl methacrylate) semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks and nanofiller densil for biomedical application

ABSTRACTNanocomposites based on sequential semi–interpenetrating polymer networks (semi–IPNs) of crosslinked polyurethane and linear poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) filled with 1–15 wt % of nanofiller densil were prepared and investigated. Nanofiller densil used in an attempt to control the microphase separation of the polymer matrix by polymer–filler interactions. The morphology (SAXS, AFM), mechanical properties (stress–strain), thermal transitions (DSC) and polymer dynamics (DRS, TSDC) of the nanocomposites were investigated. Special attention has been paid to the raising of the hydration properties and the dynamics of water molecules in the nanocomposites in the perspective of biomedical applications. Nanoparticles were found to aggregate partially for higher than 3 and 5 wt % filler loading in semi–IPNs with 17 and 37 wt % PHEMA, respectively. The results show that the good hydration properties of the semi–IPN matrix are preserved in the nanocomposites, which in combination with results of thermal and dielectric techniques revealed also the existence of polymer–polymer and polymer–filler interactions. These interactions results also in the improvement of physical and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites in compare with the neat matrix. The improvement of mechanical properties in combination with hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of nanocomposites are promising for use these materials for biomedical application namely as surgical films for wound treatment and as material for producing the medical devises. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43122.

The biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of nanocomposites from polyurethane and nano silicate platelets

Nanocomposites from a polyether-type waterborne polyurethane (PU) and 0.1 wt % of silicate materials were prepared. The individual silicate materials were natural clays (montmorillonite and mica), their exfoliated clays [nano silicate platelets (NSP) and nano mica platelets], and NSP modified with C18 fatty amine (NSP-S). The physico-chemcical properties and antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites were characterized in vitro. The biostability and biocompatibility of the nanocomposites were evaluated in vivo. The nanocomposites exhibited various surface morphologies with phase separation of hard and soft domains in nanometric scales. The nanocomposite containing NSP (PU-NSP) showed better endothelial cell attachment and gene expression. The better biocompatibility of PU-NSP and PU-NSP-S was evidenced by the lower thickness of foreign body capsules in rat subcutaneous implantation. PU-NSP had the least surface degradation in vivo as demonstrated by the electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. This may be associated with the different surface structure. PU-NSP and PU-NSP-S showed strong bacteriostatic effects, which suggested that the nano clay in the polymer matrix may still interact with the microbes.

Biocompatibility of Nanocomposites Used for Artificial Conjunctiva: In Vivo Experiments

Purpose: To evaluate the biocompatibility of nanocomposites used for artificial conjunctiva. Methods: Fifty New Zealand white rabbits were used for the experiments. Nanocomposites of poly ϵ-caprolactone (PCL) and of PCL coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PCL+PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PCL+PVP), or chitosan (PCL+C), and amniotic membrane (AM) as a control, were cut into small disks with a diameter of 3.5 mm. The disks were inserted underneath the conjunctiva to measure their inflammation-inducing properties. To investigate epithelial adhesion and goblet cell differentiation, the disks were transplanted after round conjunctival excision. Cultivated conjunctival epithelial cells on nanocomposite were then transplanted onto the abdomen of Balb/c athymic mice. The number of inflammatory cells and the density of goblet cells were measured using hematoxylin and eosin, periodic-acid–Schiff, and immunohistochemistry after 2 weeks. Results: The number of inflammatory cells found inside of the inserts was as follows: 21 ± 4.9 for controls, 21 ± 15.1 for PCL, 49.6 ± 26.0 for PCL+PVP, 40.2 ± 17.1 for PCL+C, and 13.8 ± 3.9 for PCL+PVA. In PCL+PVA, the accumulation of inflammatory cells was significantly lower than in the controls (p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U). The reepithelialization of conjunctival cells was accomplished in more than 75% of all disks except for the PCL+C. In addition, we found the differentiation of goblet cells in the following order from greatest to least: amniotic membrane, PCL, and PCL+PVP. Conclusions: Nanocomposites of PCL were biocompatible in rabbit conjunctiva, suggesting that PCL may be considered as a candidate for use in the development of artificial conjunctiva.