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Updated: Mar 15, 2026
Application of a Coupling Agent to Improve the Dielectric Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites
Published on: September 19, 2020
Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural
Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo1,2, Eugenia Pugliese1,2, Aitor Larrañaga1,3
1CÚRAM - Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
Aim:
Medium chain length-polyhydroxyalkanoate/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) nanocomposites with a range of mechanical and electrochemical properties were fabricated via assisted dispersion and solvent casting, and their suitability as neural interface biomaterials was investigated.
Materials & Methods:
Mechanical and electrical properties of medium chain length-polyhydroxyalkanoate/MWCNTs nanocomposite films were evaluated by tensile test and electrical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. Primary rat mesencephalic cells were seeded on the composites and quantitative immunostaining of relevant neural biomarkers, and electrical stimulation studies were performed.
Results:
Incorporation of MWCNTs to the polymeric matrix modulated the mechanical and electrical properties of resulting composites, and promoted differential cell viability, morphology and function as a function of MWCNT concentration.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates the feasibility of a green thermoplastic MWCNTs nanocomposite for potential use in neural interfacing applications.
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