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Restructuring the Interface of Silk-Polycaprolactone Biocomposites Using Rigid-Flexible Agents
Yan Zhao1, Zihong Wu1, Lei Chen2
1International Research Center for Advanced Structural and Biomaterials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing100191, People's Republic of China.
Biomacromolecules
|December 23, 2022
Summary
Researchers improved silk-polymer biocomposites for medical devices by enhancing fiber-matrix adhesion. The polydopamine and epoxy soybean oil strategy significantly boosted interfacial strength, creating tougher materials.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Textile Engineering
Background:
- Natural fiber biocomposites offer promise for internal medical devices due to superior mechanical and biological characteristics.
- A significant challenge in developing these biocomposites is the poor interfacial adhesion between natural silk fibers and polymer matrices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance interfacial adhesion between Antheraea pernyi (Ap) silk and polycaprolactone (PCL) using rigid-flexible agents.
- To compare two strategies for introducing polydopamine (PDA) and epoxy soybean oil (ESO): PDA first (Ap-PDA-ESO) and ESO first (Ap-ESO-PDA).
Main Methods:
- Two-step surface modification of Antheraea pernyi silk using polydopamine and epoxy soybean oil.
- Fabrication of silk-polycaprolactone biocomposites using the modified silk fibers.
- Evaluation of interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of the resulting biocomposites.
Main Results:
- Both PDA and ESO improved interfacial interactions at the silk-PCL interface through multiple molecular interactions.
- The Ap-PDA-ESO strategy demonstrated superior enhancement in interfacial adhesion compared to the Ap-ESO-PDA strategy.
- Interfacial toughening mechanisms were proposed to explain the improved performance of the Ap-PDA-ESO modified biocomposites.
Conclusions:
- The strategic application of rigid-flexible agents, particularly the PDA-first approach, significantly enhances silk-PCL biocomposite interfacial adhesion.
- This study provides insights into engineering robust and resilient silk fiber-based biocomposites for advanced biomedical applications.
