Experimental routes of cytotoxicity studies of nanocomposites based on the organo-bentonite clay and anhydride containing co- and terpolymers

Abstract

We introduce briefly surface modification of clay minerals, synthesis of co- and terpolymers characterization techniques of polymer–clay nanocomposites. Organically modified layered-silicates or nanoclays have become an attractive class of hybrid materials due to their wide usage in a great variety of applications from industry to health. For design, synthesis and characterization of potential biomedical nanocomposites, antitumor-active co- and terpolymers poly(3,4-Dihydro-2H-pyran-alt-maleic anhydride) poly(DHP-alt-MA) and poly(3,4-Dihydro-2H-pyran-co-maleic anhydride-co-vinyl acetate) poly(DHP-co-MA-co-VA) were used to prepare copolymer/organo-clay nanocomposites. The functional copolymers, having a combination of rigid/flexible linkages and an ability of complex-formation with interlayered surface of organo-silicate, and their nanocomposites have been synthesized by interlamellar complex-radical copolymerization of intercalated monomer complexes of maleic anhydride and 3,4-Dihydro-2H-pyran and vinyl acetate with three alkyl ammonium salts (C14–C18) surface-modified bentonite and monomer mixtures. X-ray diffraction method and observation monitored the formation and the changes in the basal space and crystallinity of terpolymer and its nanocomposites. Basal space of nanocomposites shows increment when compared with the terpolymer. Property-structure relations of all synthesized materials were enlightened by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and HR-Raman spectroscopy. Morphology of nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cytotoxic effects of copolymer, terpolymer and modified bentonite nanocomposites on L929 cells were assessed by MTT cell viability assay, and modified nanocomposites caused decreased cell viability.