Amine-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes impart osteoinductive and bactericidal properties in poly(epsilon-caprolactone) composites

Kumar, Sachin and Bose, Suryasarathi and Chatterjee, Kaushik (2014) Amine-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes impart osteoinductive and bactericidal properties in poly(epsilon-caprolactone) composites. In: RSC ADVANCES, 4 (37). pp. 19086-19098.

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Abstract

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) is an aliphatic polyester widely used for biomedical applications but lacks the mechanical properties desired for many load-bearing orthopedic applications. The objective of this study was to prepare and characterize PCL composites incorporating multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with different surface functional groups. PCL composites were prepared by melt-mixing with three different types of MWNTs: pristine (pMWNT), amine functionalized (aMWNT), and carboxyl functionalized (cMWNT). Melt rheology and scanning electron microscopy indicated good dispersion of the nanotubes in the matrix. Tensile strength and elastic modulus of the polymer was significantly increased by the incorporation of MWNTs and further enhanced by favorable interactions between PCL and aMWNTs. Thermal analysis revealed that MWNTs act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for crystallization of PCL and increase polymer crystallinity. Incorporation of functionalized MWNTs increased the surface water wettability of PCL. Osteoblast proliferation and differentiation was significantly enhanced on functionalized composites. aMWNT composites also exhibited the best bactericidal response. This study demonstrates that surface functionalization of MWNTs profoundly influences the properties of PCL and amine-functionalization offers the optimal combination of mechanical properties, osteogenesis and antimicrobial response. These results have important implications for designing nanocomposites for use in orthopedics.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	RSC ADVANCES
Publisher:	ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to the ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY, ENGLAND
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy)
Date Deposited:	10 Jun 2014 05:22
Last Modified:	10 Jun 2014 05:22
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/49231

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