Tungsten disulfide nanotubes reinforced biodegradable polymers for bone tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) is a biodegradable polymer with potential applications in biomedical fields, but its mechanical properties require enhancement.
• Nanomaterials offer a promising route to improve polymer composite performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of inorganic tungsten disulfide nanotubes (WSNTs) as reinforcing agents in PPF composites.
• To compare the reinforcing performance of WSNTs against single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and MWCNTs).

Main Methods:

• Preparation of PPF nanocomposites with varying concentrations of WSNTs, SWCNTs, and MWCNTs.
• Mechanical testing including compression and three-point bending.
• Sol fraction analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis.

Main Results:

• WSNT-reinforced PPF composites showed significant mechanical property enhancements (up to 190%) compared to baseline PPF.
• WSNTs demonstrated superior or equivalent mechanical reinforcement compared to SWCNTs and MWCNTs.
• TEM analysis revealed individual WSNT dispersion, while CNTs formed aggregates, correlating with improved mechanical properties.

Conclusions:

• Inorganic WSNTs are effective reinforcing agents for PPF composites, surpassing carbon nanotubes in mechanical enhancement.
• Individual dispersion, chemical composition, and functional groups of nanomaterials are critical for improving composite mechanical properties.
• WSNTs offer a promising alternative for enhancing biodegradable polymer composites.