Cellulose nanocomposites with nanofibres isolated from pineapple leaf fibers for medical applications

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 86; no. 4; pp. 1790 - 1798
• Main Authors: Cherian, Bibin Mathew, Leão, Alcides Lopes, de Souza, Sivoney Ferreira, Costa, Ligia Maria Manzine, de Olyveira, Gabriel Molina, Kottaisamy, M., Nagarajan, E.R., Thomas, Sabu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.10.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; cellulose; Cellulose Nanofibres; cellulosic fibers; Composites; Compounding ingredients; compression molding; Exact sciences and technology; Fillers and reinforcing agents; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; leaves; mechanical properties; Medical application; Medical sciences; microscopy; Nanocomposites; nanofibers; Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF); pineapples; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyurethane; polyurethanes; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Technology of polymers; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; X-ray diffraction; BC; Mn; H2C2O4; BD; PU; NaOH; AFM; NaClO; XRD; DP; PALF; rsp; PCL-diol; A0; min; MDI; THF; DMF; Medical application; MPa; Asp; mm; Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF); PTFE; rpm; μm; Cellulose Nanofibres; Nanocomposites; NC; ESEM; Polyurethane; MIDE; SEM; kPa; CH3COOH; nm; Segmented polymer; Cellulose; Plant fiber; Nanofiber; Delignification; Heart valve; Compression molding; Hydrothermal treatment; Esterurethane polymer; Fatigue strength; Physical separation; Biomaterial; Nanocomposite; Manufacturing; Human; Mechanical properties; Experimental study; Polymer filler interaction; In vivo; Morphology; Filler; Hydrogen bond
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.07.009

[Display omitted] ► Well interconnected web like nanofibrils extracted from pineapple leaf fibers by steam coupled acid treatment. ► Nanofibres prepared by this technique observed to have very high percentage yield and aspect ratio in comparison with other conventional methods. ► High strength nanocellulose reinforced polyurethane composites developed for medical application. ► Assessment of medical applicability of the developed nanocomposites for use as tissue implants such as heart valves and vascular grafts. Nanocellulose is the crystalline domains obtained from renewable cellulosic sources, used to increase mechanical properties and biodegrability in polymer composites. This work has been to study how high pressure defibrillation and chemical purification affect the PALF fibre morphology from micro to nanoscale. Microscopy techniques and X-ray diffraction were used to study the structure and properties of the prepared nanofibers and composites. Microscopy studies showed that the used individualization processes lead to a unique morphology of interconnected web-like structure of PALF fibers. The produced nanofibers were bundles of cellulose fibers of widths ranging between 5 and 15nm and estimated lengths of several micrometers. Percentage yield and aspect ratio of the nanofiber obtained by this technique is found to be very high in comparison with other conventional methods. The nanocomposites were prepared by means of compression moulding, by stacking the nanocellulose fibre mats between polyurethane films. The results showed that the nanofibrils reinforced the polyurethane efficiently. The addition of 5wt% of cellulose nanofibrils to PU increased the strength nearly 300% and the stiffness by 2600%. The developed composites were utilized to fabricate various versatile medical implants.