HDPE/UHMWPE hybrid nanocomposites with surface functionalized graphene oxide towards improved strength and cytocompatibility

Bhusari, Shardul Atul and Sharma, Vidushi and Bose, Suryasarathi and Basu, Bikramjit (2019) HDPE/UHMWPE hybrid nanocomposites with surface functionalized graphene oxide towards improved strength and cytocompatibility. In: JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE, 16 (150).

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Abstract

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites with carbonaceous reinforcements are being widely investigated for biomedical applications. The enhancement of material properties critically depends on the nature, amount and compatibility of the reinforcement with the polymeric matrix. To this end, this study demonstrates the efficacy of a `dual' hybrid approach of incorporating modified inorganic nanofiller into an optimized polyethylene blend. In particular, a unique synthesis strategy was adopted to design a covalently bonded maleated polyethylene (mPE) grafted modified graphene oxide (mGO) hybrid nanocomposite. In this scheme, polyethyleneimine (PEI) was initially attached onto GO to synthesize amine functionalized GO (GO-PEI). This is followed by mPE grafting, resulting in mGO. Melt-extrusion together with injection moulding of a polymer mix (60% HDPE-40% UHMWPE) with different proportions (less than or equal to 3 wt%) of surface functionalized GO was conducted to develop nanocomposites of different sizes and shapes. When compared with unreinforced PE blend, the nanocomposites with 1 wt% mGO exhibited an increase in ultimate tensile strength by 120% (up to 65 MPa) and elastic modulus by 40% (up to 908 MPa). The uniform dispersion of modified GO nanofillers, confirmed using X-ray micro-computed tomography and transmission electron microscopy, facilitated effective interfacial adhesion and compatibility with the hybrid polymer matrix. The variation in mechanical properties with GO/mGO addition to PE blend was critically discussed in reference to the structural modification of GO, crystallinity and nature of dispersion of fillers. Importantly, the nanocomposites support the attachment and proliferation of C2C12 murine myoblast cells over 3 days in culture in a statistically insignificant manner with respect to polymer blends without any nanofiller. Taken together, the experimental results suggest that HDPE/UHMWPE/mGO is a promising biomaterial for bone tissue engineering applications.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
Publisher:	ROYAL SOC
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to ROYAL SOC
Keywords:	cytocompatibility; graphene oxide; high-density polyethylene/UHMWPE blend; mechanical properties; nanocomposites; melt-extrusion
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Materials Research Centre Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy)
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2019 09:46
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2019 09:46
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/62811

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