Sonochemical Synthesis of Magnetite/Poly(lactic acid) Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and magnetite nanoparticles (MNP-Fe₃O₄) show promise for applications in biomedical treatments. One key challenge is to improve the stabilization and dispersion of MNP-Fe₃O₄. To address this, we synthesized MNP-Fe₃O₄/PLA nanocomposites using ultrasound mediation and a single iron(II) precursor, eliminating the need for surfactants or organic solvents, and conducted the process under ambient conditions. The resulting materials, containing 18 and 33 wt.% Fe₃O₄, exhibited unique thermal behavior characterized by two mass losses: one at a lower degradation temperature (T_d) and another at a higher T_d compared to pure PLA. This suggests that the interaction between PLA and MNP-Fe₃O₄ occurs through hydrogen bonds, enhancing the thermal stability of a portion of the polymer. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis supported this finding, revealing shifts in bands related to the terminal -OH groups of the polymer and the Fe-O bonds, thereby confirming the interaction between the groups. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that the PLA serves as a protective layer against the oxidation of MNP-Fe₃O₄ in the 18% MNP-Fe₃O₄/PLA nanocomposite when exposed to a high-power laser (90 mW). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses confirmed that the synthetic procedure yields materials with dispersed nanoparticles within the PLA matrix without the need for additional reactants.