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Gold nanoparticles induce surface morphological transformation in polyurethane and affect the cellular response.
Shan-hui Hsu1, Cheng-Ming Tang, Hsiang-Jung Tseng
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. shhsu@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Biomacromolecules
|January 1, 2008
Summary
Adding small amounts of gold nanoparticles to polyurethane enhances its biocompatibility. This gold nanoparticle-polyurethane composite shows improved cell growth and reduced bacterial adhesion, making it promising for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Polyurethane (PU) is a versatile polymer with applications in biomedical devices.
- Modifying PU with nanoparticles can enhance its properties.
- Controlling the interaction of biomaterials with biological systems is crucial for medical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of gold (Au) nanoparticles on the microstructure and physiochemical properties of a hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)-based polyester-type waterborne polyurethane (PU).
- To evaluate the biocompatibility of these PU-Au nanocomposites by assessing cell attachment, proliferation, platelet activation, and bacterial adhesion.
- To determine the optimal concentration of Au nanoparticles for improved biocompatibility.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of PU nanocomposites with varying concentrations of Au nanoparticles (17.4–174 ppm, ~5 nm).
- Characterization of microstructure and physiochemical properties using techniques like electron microscopy and spectroscopy.
- In vitro evaluation of biological responses: cell culture studies for attachment and proliferation, assays for platelet activation, and bacterial adhesion tests.
Main Results:
- Small concentrations of Au nanoparticles (43.5 or 65 ppm) significantly altered the surface morphology and domain structures of the PU, inducing a transition from hard segment lamellae to soft segment micelles.
- These morphological changes were comparable to mesophase transitions in diblock copolymers.
- The PU nanocomposite with 43.5 or 65 ppm Au exhibited enhanced cellular proliferation, reduced platelet activation, and decreased bacterial adhesion compared to pure PU and other concentrations of Au nanoparticles.
Conclusions:
- The addition of a small amount of gold nanoparticles can effectively modify the surface morphology and phase separation in waterborne polyurethane.
- These modifications lead to improved biocompatibility, characterized by enhanced cell proliferation and reduced adverse biological responses.
- The findings suggest that PU-Au nanocomposites with optimized gold nanoparticle concentrations hold significant potential for advanced biomedical applications.
