Nanocomposites of Polymeric Biomaterials Containing Carbonate Groups: An Overview

Abstract

The modification of biomaterials using nanoadditives can lead to the development of novel materials for a wide variety of biomedical applications such as drug administration systems, tissue engineering, bioresistance coatings, and biomedical instruments. Moreover, a further improvement of mechanical and thermal properties of aforementioned biomaterials while maintaining their dimensional stability is a goal of major scientific researches. Aliphatic polycarbonates (APCs) containing carbonate groups such as poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(propylene carbonate), poly(ethylene carbonate), poly(dimethyl trimethylene carbonate), etc., have become much more interesting compared to other biodegradable materials due to their unique physical and chemical properties. This review presents the effect of applying different kinds of nanoparticles (NPs) on the mechanical, thermal, and viscoelastic properties as well as dimensional stability and biocompatibility of APCs. The dispersion process of nanofillers within polymer matrices has been divided into two groups, solution and melt mixing techniques. Moreover, synthesis procedures of APC loaded NPs for drug delivery systems and electrospinning of nanofiber mats have also been reviewed. In order to clarify the effect of NPs on the overall characteristics of the APC biomaterials, the detailed mechanism of improving process have been extensively discussed.

Nanofibrous Substrate for Tissue Engineering Applications—A Review

“…It suggested that nano-additives, particularly aliphatic polycarbonates (APCs), could be used to modify the scaffolds to enhance biocompatibility and control degradation when the scaffolds were embedded in the tissues. 22 The commonlyused biocompatible materials for tissue engineering include chitosan and its composites, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/nanohydroxyapatite (PHB/nHA), 23 poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and its composites, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and its composites, poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), (PLGA) and its derivatives, regenerated silk fibroin and its derivatives, and collagen and its derivatives, as well as composited materials (containing more than one polymer system). 21,24 The detailed polymer list for bio-scaffold designing using electrospinning is summarized in Table I.…”

Overview: Polycarbonates via Ring-Opening Polymerization, Differences between Six- and Five-Membered Cyclic Carbonates: Inspiration for Green Alternatives

“…In addition, the degradation rate of PCs is slower than that of polyesters. Due to all of these promising advantages, PCs have attracted great interest [ 5 ] concerning their potential application in many areas.…”

Sawdust based composites

“…Sawdust together with urea‐formaldehyde resin was used to improve mechanical properties of banana fibers 14 . Carbon nanotubes were made from sawdust and used to create polypropylene‐based nanocomposites with magnetic properties 15 —while of course other options in making polymer‐based nanocomposites exist 16 . Another original use of sawdust was combining it with polysulfone to create membranes for water desalination 17 …”