Fabrication and properties of polyhydroxybutyrate/kaolin nanocomposites and evaluation of their biocompatibility for biomedical applications

Abstract

The polyhydroxybutyrate biopolymer nanocomposites (C1–C10) were fabricated by solvent casting method with different loading of kaolin and polyethylene glycol. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the microstructure of the composites varied with different kaolin loading. X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirm the presence of kaolin in the polymer matrix due to the intercalation and formation of hydrogen bond. The contact angle of the nanocomposites decreased with increasing kaolin loading indicating an improvement in wettability of the nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that the Tmax and Tm of the nanocomposites increased with increasing kaolin loading. The mechanical property of the nanocomposite fabricated with 10 wt% kaolin (C10) was found to have identical mechanical property with natural bone that was selected as an optimum nanocomposite. The nanocomposite showed prolonged blood clotting time exhibiting anticoagulant nature of the nanocomposite. Moreover, low protein adsorption (168 ± 8 μg/cm2), suppressed platelet adhesion (75 ± 2 × 109 platelets/cm2) and less complement activation (118 ± 5 mg/dl for C3 and 658 ± 5 mg/dl for C4) showed the improvement in surface properties of the nanocomposite. In vitro bioactivity studies revealed the formation of hydroxyapatite layer on the surface of the nanocomposites. Eventually, the nanocomposites (C10) showed no cytotoxic effect on MG‐63 cells as tested through MTT assay and it is biologically safe.

Selected Textural and Electrochemical Properties of Nanocomposite Fillers Based on the Mixture of Rose Clay/Hydroxyapatite/Nanosilica for Cosmetic Applications

“…There are few reports in the literature related to the present research [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. This study proposes the creation of composites (vide infra) based on the clay mineral and hydroxyapatite that provide various forms of inclusion of active substances by optimizing the composition and improving the formation methods.…”