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Poly(3- hydroxybutyrate)/Bioglass® composite films containing carbon nanotubes

S K Misra1, P C P Watts2, S P Valappil1,3, S R P Silva2, I Roy3 and A R Boccaccini1

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Poly(3hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB))/Bioglass® composites incorporating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been successfully prepared by the solvent casting technique. The microstructure, electrical properties and bioactivity of the composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and current–voltage measurements. Different concentrations of MWCNTs were used to determine their effect on the electrical properties of the composites. MWCNTs and Bioglass® particles were found to be homogeneously dispersed throughout the P(3HB) matrix. The electrical resistance of the composite samples decreased on increasing the MWCNT concentration, as expected. An in vitro degradation study in simulated body fluid (SBF) was carried out on composite samples. The formation of hydroxyapatite on the surfaces of P(3HB)/Bioglass®/MWCNT composite films was confirmed after two months of immersion in SBF. This hydroxyapatite layer was not formed on the neat polymeric films and on composites containing MWCNTs only (without Bioglass®). It was found that the presence of MWCNTs did not hinder the bioactivity of the Bioglass® particles, as confirmed by SEM and XRD studies on composite samples.


PACS

87.85.Qr Nanotechnologies-design

87.64.Ee Electron microscopy

61.46.Fg Nanotubes

87.85.J- Biomaterials

87.64.Bx Electron, neutron and x-ray diffraction and scattering

Subjects

Medical physics

Biological physics

Nanoscale science and low-D systems

Dates

Issue 7 (21 February 2007)

Received 22 October 2006, in final form 27 November 2006

Published 12 January 2007



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