Impact of poly(ε‐caprolactone) on the thermal, dynamic‐mechanical and crystallization behavior of polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(ε‐caprolactone) blends in the presence of KIT‐6 mesoporous particles

Abstract

Acquiring a polymeric nanocomposite with biocompatibility, desirable dynamic‐mechanical‐thermal properties, and piezoelectricity, as well as high loading capacity, is challenging for design polymeric systems with potential applications in tissue engineering and biosensing. In this work, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), and KIT‐6 mesoporous silica particles were used to prepare PVDF/PCL blends and their nanocomposites as potential candidates to meet the characteristics mentioned above. Hence, we deeply investigated the effect of the addition of PCL and KIT‐6 on the compatibility, crystallinity, and engineering properties of immiscible PVDF/PCL blends. PVDF/PCL blends without KIT‐6 particles and 75/25 PVDF/PCL blend containing various amounts of KIT‐6 particles were prepared by solution casting/annealing technique. It was found that PCL decreased the crystallization temperature and melting points of the PVDF component in the blends. The crystallinity and β‐phase content of PVDF reached maximum values for 75/25 PVDF/PCL blend; interestingly, KIT‐6 prevented PVDF crystallization and decreased β‐phase content. The results of thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic‐mechanical thermal analysis revealed that the presence of PCL reduced the thermal stability of the blends. On the other hand, KIT‐6 increased the thermal decomposition temperature and storage modulus of the polymeric matrix.

Conductive poly(ε‐caprolactone)/polylactic acid scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: Synergy effect of zirconium nanoparticles and polypyrrole

“…The wavenumber ranges of 1850–2750 and 3300–4000 cm −1 were ignored from the FTIR spectra as the samples did not show any characteristic vibrational bands in the neglected wavenumber range. As reported in previous works, 5,9,32 the FTIR spectrum of PCL shows asymmetric and symmetric CH 2 stretching bonds at 2942 and 2863 cm −1 , respectively. Absorption bands at 1470, 1396, and 1364 cm −1 were due to CH 2 bending vibrations.…”

“…The wavenumber ranges of 1850-2750 and 3300-4000 cm À1 were ignored from the FTIR spectra as the samples did not show any characteristic vibrational bands in the neglected wavenumber range. As reported in previous works, 5,9,32 scaffolds could be tuned by controlling parameters such as polymer molecular weight, the concentration of polymer solution, and freezing temperature. 36 Figure 4 displays the porous structure of the fabricated scaffolds, revealing that the scaffolds possess inter-connected porous with an average size of about 61 μm (Table 2).…”

“…3 PCL is one of the popular polyesters in tissue engineering, which has been widely used to fabricate polymeric nanocomposites due to its high biocompatibility, suitable degradation rate, and ability to blend with a broad range of polymers. 4,5 Overall, PLA possesses lower hydrophilicity, better mechanical strength, and a faster hydrolytic degradation rate than PCL. 6 PCL and PLA are two complementary biopolymers that their degradation rate, mechanical properties, wettability, and other properties can be optimized by combining them with each other.…”

“…Over the past decades, bio‐polyesters have been attracted considerable attention among all synthetic biomaterials considering their desirable biocompatibility and their hydrolytically unstable ester bonds, making them a high potential candidate for biomedical applications 3 . PCL is one of the popular polyesters in tissue engineering, which has been widely used to fabricate polymeric nanocomposites due to its high biocompatibility, suitable degradation rate, and ability to blend with a broad range of polymers 4,5 . Overall, PLA possesses lower hydrophilicity, better mechanical strength, and a faster hydrolytic degradation rate than PCL 6 .…”

Preparation and characterization of a new bio nanocomposites based poly(glycerol sebacic‐urethane) containing nano‐clay (Cloisite Na+) and its potential application for tissue engineering

“…Therefore, more energy (i.e., higher temperature) is needed to move the polymer chains. 49 On the other hand, the filler loading higher than 3% reduced the T g , and the maximum of loss modulus curve shifted from À4.5 C (PGSU/Na3) to below the T g of pure PGSU and stood at À6.6 C for PGSU/Na5. This behavior probably could be attributed to a change in the free volume of the system.…”