Fabricating polymer-nanocomposite fiber for biomedical applications.

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HA) and Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have been used as biocompatible and osteoconductive substitutes in the biomedical field such as orthopedic. However, HA and POSS are difficult to shape in the specific forms required for bone substitution due to its hardness and brittleness. Therefore, novel composites of HA/Chitosan and POSS/Chitosan have became of great interests. The POSS used in this study is Aminopropylphenyl POSS (AM0273 POSS).

This project carried out studies to investigate the influence of various concentration of reinforcement particle on the maximum stress, maximum strain, modulus of elasticity, elastic energy and toughness of the composite fibers formed. Composite fibers of HA/Chitosan and AM0273 POSS/Chitosan were synthesized by wet spinning method at concentration (w/w %) of 1%, 3 %, 5%, 7% and 9 % of HA and AM0273 POSS. The composites were subjected to tensile test and examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Tensile test revealed that the 3% HA/Chitosan and the 7% AM0273 POSS/Chitosan composites exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to pure chitosan. The mechanical properties show decreasing trend beyond the loading of 3% HA and 7% AM0273 POSS. Maximum stress, maximum strain and toughness demonstrate statistically significant higher value compared to pure chitosan. However, the changes in modulus of elasticity and elastic energy are not statistically significant.