Poly(butylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate/diglycolate) random copolymers reinforced with SWCNTs for multifunctional conductive biopolymer composites

Review on PCL, PBS, and PCL/PBS blends containing carbon nanotubes

“…Biodegradable polymers are mainly synthesized from renewable natural resources and they degrade over a period of time through enzymolysis of microorganisms when exposed to a natural environment [2]. Different types of biodegradable polymers such as poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and poly(alkanoates) (PHA, PHB, PHBV) have been studied as potential biomaterials for a variety of applications such as biomedical devices, biodegradable packaging, adhesives, agricultural areas, auto-motion and construction [6][7][8][9][10]. However, some of these applications are limited due to the polymers' poor thermal and mechanical properties such as brittleness, low toughness and slow crystallization rates.…”

Recent Advances in Nanocomposites Based on Aliphatic Polyesters: Design, Synthesis, and Applications in Regenerative Medicine

“…The effect of solvent in the film processing and in the material properties is a key point that needs to be elucidated. Indeed, the selected solvent influences the film properties, in terms of thermal, mechanical, and surface properties, of homogeneity of the surface micro and nano-structure, reorientation or mobility of the surface crystal segment, swelling, and deformation [10][11][12][13]38,64,68]. Polymer solubility is one of the main points to analyze and study in terms of temperature dependence and the solubility limit.…”

“…To overcome this problem, CNT functionalization is achieved by adsorption, electrostatic interaction, or covalent bonding of different molecules and chemistries [62]. In combination with APs, CNTs were mainly used to modulate the bulk properties of the polymeric matrix, such as thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties [10][11][12][13].…”

“…Furthermore, important points are also to avoid the adverse effects on the polymer. A variety of processing techniques can be exploited to develop dense polymer nanocomposite films [10][11][12][13]38,64] or three-dimensional porous structures [65,66]. The selection of the processing method depends on the type of biopolymer, on the nanoparticle, and the final application.…”

“…Although various polymeric biomaterials have proved to be useful in the regenerative medicine, special attention has been given to aliphatic polyesters (APs) [6]. APs are biodegradable and/or bio-based, and their properties can be modulated both by chemical routes [7][8][9] and by physical means by fabricating nanocomposites [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Despite their potential in various biomedical applications, APs lack surface epitopes, have poor biomechanical properties (e.g., low modulus or brittleness), and longer degradation times, e.g., poly(ε-caprolactone), thereby necessitate the incorporation of additional molecules or nanofillers to modulate these characteristics.…”