Imaging, spectroscopic, mechanical and biocompatibility studies of electrospun Tecoflex® EG 80A nanofibers and composites thereof containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The present study discusses the design, development and characterization of electrospun Tecoflex® EG 80A class of polyurethane nanofibers and the incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to these materials. Scanning electron microscopy results confirmed the presence of polymer nanofibers, which showed a decrease in fiber diameter at 0.5% wt. and 1% wt. MWCNTs loadings, while transmission electron microscopy showed evidence of the MWCNTs embedded within the polymer matrix. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to elucidate the polymer-MWCNTs intermolecular interactions, indicating that the C-N and N-H bonds in polyurethanes are responsible for the interactions with MWCNTs. Furthermore, tensile testing indicated an increase in the Young’s modulus of the nanofibers as the MWCNTs concentration was increased. Finally, NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were seeded on the obtained nanofibers, demonstrating cell biocompatibility and proliferation. Therefore, the results indicate the successful formation of polyurethane nanofibers with enhanced mechanical properties, and demonstrate their biocompatibility, suggesting their potential application in biomedical areas.

Hydrophilically modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers incorporating cellulose acetate fabricated by colloidal electrospinning for future tissue‐regeneration applications

“…It is well known that addition of CA can decrease the resistivity of polymeric systems, which in turn will promote a decreased conductivity and lower charge density of the jet during electrospinning . These effects can drastically affect in the elongation of the fiber while it is being formed, promoting an increase in fiber diameter, which is similar to reports where salts have been used as additives to reduce nanofiber diameter . In our case, the effect is attributed to the presence of CA in the polymeric solution, increasing the diameters of the nanofibers during electrospinning.…”

“…The rationale to have increased fiber diameters could be explained due to the presence of CA in the electrospinning solution thereby increasing the viscosity of the solution and therefore, needs a high charge while electrospinning. In this connection, our research group has demonstrated a decrease in nanofiber diameter upon addition of MWCNTs and different salts to electrospun polyurethane, nylon 6, and poly(vinyl alcohol) . It is well known that addition of CA can decrease the resistivity of polymeric systems, which in turn will promote a decreased conductivity and lower charge density of the jet during electrospinning .…”

“…In our case, the effect is attributed to the presence of CA in the polymeric solution, increasing the diameters of the nanofibers during electrospinning. Therefore, the resultant fibers have increased diameters . This can impede in decreased mechanical properties of the nanofibers as the average fiber diameter is increased.…”

Influence of Carbon Nanofibers on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of NC‐TEGDN‐RDX Triple‐Base Gun Propellants

“…Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) exhibit intriguing mechanical strength, flexibility, thermal conductivity [15][16] and have been widely used in various advanced composite materials, including polymeric composites [17][18][19], plastics [20][21][22], tissue scaffold [23][24] and energy storage devices [25][26][27]. M. H. Al-Saleh reported that tensile modulus and tensile strength of vapor grown CNFs were 2.92 GPa and 240 GPa [28].…”

In situ preparation and characterization of biocompatible acrylate‐terminated polyurethane containing chemically modified multiwalled carbon nanotube

“…CNT can be appropriate nanoparticle for developing structural and functional polymer‐based nanocomposites for biomedical applications as well . In addition to inherent exceptional properties of CNT enabling properties improvement of polymer/CNT nanocomposites, it is also able to induce the morphology of polymer matrix by promotion of crystallinity and trans ‐crystallinity which can in turn contribute significantly on the final mechanical properties of polymer/CNT nanocomposites .…”