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Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
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Immiscible poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) for temporary implants: Compatibility and cytotoxicity.
Pablo F M Finotti1, Lidiane C Costa2, Ticiana S O Capote3
1Department of Materials Engineering, Engineering School of São Carlos, University of São Paulo - USP, São Carlos, São Paulo 13563-120, Brazil.
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
|February 8, 2017
Summary
A novel triblock copolymer enhances poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) blend compatibility and toughness. This bioresorbable material shows no cytotoxicity, making it promising for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Immiscible polymer blends like poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) often suffer from poor compatibility and mechanical properties.
- Improving the interfacial adhesion and overall performance of PLA/PCL blends is crucial for their application in biomedical fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of a low molecular weight triblock copolymer (CT) on the compatibility and cytotoxicity of PLA/PCL blends.
- To enhance the mechanical properties, particularly ductility and toughness, of these bioresorbable polymer blends.
Main Methods:
- PLA/PCL blends were prepared using melt mixing in a twin-screw extruder.
- Morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties were analyzed using SEM, tensile/Izod impact tests, DMA, and DSC.
- Cytotoxicity was assessed using the XTT assay.
Main Results:
- The CT copolymer effectively suppressed domain coalescence, maintaining dispersed PCL domains at ~0.35µm.
- PLA/PCL blends with 5wt% CT copolymer showed significant improvements in ductility and toughness.
- DMA indicated the CT copolymer plasticized the PCL phase, enhancing interfacial adhesion.
Conclusions:
- The CT triblock copolymer acts as an effective compatibilizer for PLA/PCL blends, improving their morphology and mechanical performance.
- Compatibilized PLA/PCL blends demonstrate no adverse cytotoxic effects, indicating their suitability for biomedical applications.
