Development of advanced nanostructured polyurethane composites comprising hybrid fillers with enhanced properties for regenerative medicine

• Published in: Polymer testing Vol. 73; pp. 12 - 20
• Main Authors: Mani, Mohan Prasath, Jaganathan, Saravana Kumar, Khudzari, Ahmad Zahran Md, Prabhakaran, Praseetha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2019
• Subjects: MgO Np/neem oil; Physico-chemical properties; Polymeric scaffold; Polyurethane; Regenerative medicine; Polymeric scaffold; MgO Np/neem oil; Regenerative medicine; Polyurethane; Physico-chemical properties
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2018.11.014

Polymeric composite scaffold renders great potential in the remodeling of the damaged tissues when compared to the traditional materials such as autograft, allograft and xenograft. Recently, polymeric scaffolds fabricated using the electrospinning technique has been widely utilized in regenerative medicine. In this study, a novel electrospun composite scaffold based on polyurethane (PU) impregnated with MgO nanoparticles (MgO Np) and neem oil was fabricated and their physico-chemical properties were investigated. The fabricated nanocomposites showed reduced fiber and pore diameter than the pristine PU. The incorporation of neem oil and MgO resulted in the decrease in wettability behavior indicating the hydrophobic nature. Differential thermogravimetry (DTG) study revealed the reduced weight loss of the PU membrane with the addition of MgO Np and neem oil. Moreover, the incorporation of MgO Np and neem oil content altered the crystallinity behavior of the PU membrane as depicted in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Finally, the existence of MgO Np and neem oil facilitated the decrease in the surface roughness and increase in tensile strength of the pristine PU. Hence, this novel nanocomposites exhibiting enhanced physico-chemical properties warrant them as a putative candidate for the regenerative application. 1)Electrospun polyurethane composite incorporated with MgO and neem oil was fabricated;2)Morphology, wettability and roughness indicated its superiority than pristine PU;3)The addition of MgO and neem oil in PU induced a change in crystalline behavior;4)Thermal analysis depicted a reduced weight loss of the fabricated composites than PU;5)Improved properties of the composites may be conducive for regenerative medicine.