Hsiang-Jung Tseng

Gold nanoparticles induce surface morphological transformation in polyurethane and affect the cellular response.

Nanocomposites from a hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)-based polyester-type waterborne polyurethane (PU) containing different amounts (17.4-174 ppm) of gold (Au) nanoparticles (approximately 5 nm) were prepared. The microstructure and physiochemical properties of the nanocomposites were characterized. The cell attachment and proliferation, platelet activation, and bacterial adhesion on the nanocomposites were evaluated. Gold nanoparticles in small amounts induced significant changes in surface morphology and domain structures, from hard segment lamellae to soft segment micelles. These changes resembled the morphological transformation among different mesophases occurred in diblock copolymers. Better cellular proliferation, lower platelet activation, and reduced bacterial adhesion were demonstrated for the PU nanocomposite with 43.5 or 65 ppm of Au than the pure PU or the nanocomposite containing a different amount of Au. The different cellular response on PU-Au nanocomposites was attributed to the extensively modified surface morphology and phase separation in the presence of a small amount of Au nanoparticles.

Characterization and biocompatibility of chitosan nanocomposites

Chitosan nanocomposites were prepared from chitosan and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) or silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of ∼5 nm size. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the NPs in chitosan did not aggregate until higher concentrations (120-240 ppm). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated that the nanocrystalline domains on chitosan surface were more evident upon addition of AuNPs (60 ppm) or AgNPs (120 ppm). Both nanocomposites showed greater elastic modulus, higher glass transition temperature (T(g)) and better cell proliferation than the pristine chitosan. Additionally, chitosan-Ag nanocomposites had antibacterial ability against Staphylococcus aureus. The potential of chitosan-Au nanocomposites as hemostatic wound dressings was evaluated in animal (rat) studies. Chitosan-Au was found to promote the repair of skin wound and hemostasis of severed hepatic portal vein. This study indicated that a small amount of NPs could induce significant changes in the physicochemical properties of chitosan, which may increase its biocompatibility and potential in wound management.

Biostability and biocompatibility of poly(ester urethane)-gold nanocomposites.

Nanocomposites from a polyester-type water-borne polyurethane (PU) containing different amounts (17.4-174 ppm) of gold (Au) nanoparticles (approximately 5 nm) were prepared. A previous study has shown that the Au nanoparticles could induce surface morphological transformations in the PU (e.g. the mesophase transition from hard lamellae to soft micelles), which modify the physicochemical properties of the PU as well as the fibroblast response to the PU. The current study focused on the biostability and biocompatibility of the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their oxidative stability and free radical scavenging ability were tested. The inflammatory response was evaluated by monocyte activation in vitro and rat subcutaneous implantation in vivo. It was found that the nanocomposites containing 43.5-65 ppm of Au had the least monocyte activation and tissue reactions. PU and the nanocomposites were rather resistant to oxidative degradation in vitro and biodegradation in vivo. The nanocomposites exhibited greater free radical scavenging abilities than the original PU. Based on the above results, the significantly enhanced biocompatibility of the PU-Au nanocomposites with 43.5-65 ppm of gold over the original PU appeared to be a result of the extensively modified surface morphology and greater free radical scavenging ability, instead of due to the difference in biostability.

In vitro biocompatibility of PTMO-based polyurethanes and those containing PDMS blocks

In this work, a series of different polyurethanes based on poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO, MW 2000) and chain extended with butenediol were synthesized by a two-step solution polymerization. Three of them contained silanol terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, MW 2000) blocks. It was shown that these polymers exhibited various degrees of micro-phase separation that further influenced their biological performances in vitro. The formulation with diphenylmethane diisocyanate/PTMO/PDMS/2-butene-1,4-diol at a molar ratio of 2: 0.75: 0.5: 1 in synthesis was favorable due to a combination of enhanced mechanical properties, biostability, cellular affinity as well as platelet nonadherence.

The biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of nanocomposites from polyurethane and nano silicate platelets

Nanocomposites from a polyether-type waterborne polyurethane (PU) and 0.1 wt % of silicate materials were prepared. The individual silicate materials were natural clays (montmorillonite and mica), their exfoliated clays [nano silicate platelets (NSP) and nano mica platelets], and NSP modified with C18 fatty amine (NSP-S). The physico-chemcical properties and antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites were characterized in vitro. The biostability and biocompatibility of the nanocomposites were evaluated in vivo. The nanocomposites exhibited various surface morphologies with phase separation of hard and soft domains in nanometric scales. The nanocomposite containing NSP (PU-NSP) showed better endothelial cell attachment and gene expression. The better biocompatibility of PU-NSP and PU-NSP-S was evidenced by the lower thickness of foreign body capsules in rat subcutaneous implantation. PU-NSP had the least surface degradation in vivo as demonstrated by the electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. This may be associated with the different surface structure. PU-NSP and PU-NSP-S showed strong bacteriostatic effects, which suggested that the nano clay in the polymer matrix may still interact with the microbes.