HDPE/UHMWPE hybrid nanocomposites with surface functionalized graphene oxide towards improved strength and cytocompatibility

Abstract

<jats:p>High-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites with carbonaceous reinforcements are being widely investigated for biomedical applications. The enhancement of material properties critically depends on the nature, amount and compatibility of the reinforcement with the polymeric matrix. To this end, this study demonstrates the efficacy of a ‘dual’ hybrid approach of incorporating modified inorganic nanofiller into an optimized polyethylene blend. In particular, a unique synthesis strategy was adopted to design a covalently bonded maleated polyethylene (mPE) grafted modified graphene oxide (mGO) hybrid nanocomposite. In this scheme, polyethyleneimine (PEI) was initially attached onto GO to synthesize amine functionalized GO (GO–PEI). This is followed by mPE grafting, resulting in mGO. Melt-extrusion together with injection moulding of a polymer mix (60% HDPE–40% UHMWPE) with different proportions (less than or equal to 3 wt%) of surface functionalized GO was conducted to develop nanocomposites of different sizes and shapes. When compared with unreinforced PE blend, the nanocomposites with 1 wt% mGO exhibited an increase in ultimate tensile strength by 120% (up to 65 MPa) and elastic modulus by 40% (up to 908 MPa). The uniform dispersion of modified GO nanofillers, confirmed using X-ray micro-computed tomography and transmission electron microscopy, facilitated effective interfacial adhesion and compatibility with the hybrid polymer matrix. The variation in mechanical properties with GO/mGO addition to PE blend was critically discussed in reference to the structural modification of GO, crystallinity and nature of dispersion of fillers. Importantly, the nanocomposites support the attachment and proliferation of C2C12 murine myoblast cells over 3 days in culture in a statistically insignificant manner with respect to polymer blends without any nanofiller. Taken together, the experimental results suggest that HDPE/UHMWPE/mGO is a promising biomaterial for bone tissue engineering applications.</jats:p>

Extrusion of Polymer Nanocomposites with Graphene and Graphene Derivative Nanofillers: An Overview of Recent Developments

“…Polyethylene (PE) and different types of polyethylene-derived materials such as linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), or polyfluorinated ethylene propylene and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) have been studied as matrices [64][65][66][67][68][69]. Reactive-melt extrusion of PE + G showed increasing crystallinity of the nanocomposites due to the nucleating effect of graphene.…”

“…% was studied. Polymers with biomedical applications such as hybrid HDPE-ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) [69] have been modified by amine surface functionalized GO, to improve not only elastic modulus and tensile strength, but also its resistance to biodegradation, thus making the new nanocomposite a possible candidate for bone tissue applications. Polyfluorinated ethylene propylene melt-spinning fibers [70] were reported to improve their chemical resistance by the addition of graphene in a low (0.3 wt.…”

<p>Applications of Graphene and Its Derivatives in Bone Repair: Advantages for Promoting Bone Formation and Providing Real-Time Detection, Challenges and Future Prospects</p>

“…GDs could be introduced into different kinds of substrates, such as metals, [130][131][132] inorganic nonmetals, [133][134][135][136] natural polymers [137][138][139] and synthetic polymers [140][141][142][143] to prepare bone repair materials with improved performance, as shown in Table 3. In this subsection, the updated progress on research and development of those materials was reviewed.…”

Advances on Graphene-Based Nanomaterials and Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Applied in Cutaneous Wound Healing

“… 75 In short, various factors like fabrication processes, dispersion in the medium, interacted functional groups all participate in the cells-GBNs performance. 76 , 77 …”