Fabrication and characterization of polysulfone-dicalcium silicate composite films

Polysulfone (PSU) composite films filled with Beta-dicalcium silicate (Beta-Ca(2)SiO(4)) particles are prepared by the solvent casting-evaporation method. The surface morphologies and mechanical properties of the films are determined. The bioactivity of the composite films is evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid (SBF) and the results show that the composites are bioactive as they induce the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) on the surface of the composite films. The measurement of the water contact angles suggests that the incorporation of Beta-Ca(2)SiO(4) particles into PSU matrix can improve the hydrophilicity of the composite. PSU composite films filled with modified Beta-dicalcium silicate (Beta-mCa(2)SiO(4)) particles are also prepared after Beta-Ca(2)SiO(4) particles are treated with dodecyl alcohol through surface esterification reactions. The infrared spectra of the Beta-mCa(2)SiO(4) particles before and after aging in water indicate that the surface modification is reversible. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images (micrographs) of both composites show that the dispersion of inorganic particles in the polymer matrix improves after surface modification. The PSU-Beta-mCa(2)SiO(4) composite is still bioactive and exhibits the same water contact angle after aging in water as compared to that of the PSU-Beta-Ca(2)SiO(4) composite. All these results suggest that the incorporation of Beta-Ca(2)SiO(4) particles is a useful method to prepare composites with improved bioactivity and hydrophilicity, and the surface modification of Beta-Ca(2)SiO(4) particles can improve the dispersion while retaining the bioactivity and hydrophilicity.