Polyurethane foams electrophoretically coated with carbon nanotubes for tissue engineering scaffolds.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were deposited on the surfaces of polyurethane (PUR) foams by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The parameters of EPD were optimized in order to obtain homogeneous CNT coatings on PUR foams and adequate infiltration of the three-dimensional (3D) porous network. The microstructure of the composites was investigated by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), revealing that optimal quality of the coatings was achieved by an EPD voltage of 20 V. The thermal properties of the CNT-coated specimens, determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were correlated to the foam microstructure. In vitro tests in concentrated simulated body fluid (1.5 SBF) were performed to study the influence of the presence of CNTs on the bioactivity of PUR-based scaffolds, assessed by the formation of calcium phosphate (CaP) compounds, e.g. hydroxyapatite (HA), on the foam surfaces. It was observed that CNTs accelerate the precipitation of CaP, which is thought to be due to the presence of more nucleation centres for crystal nucleation and growth, as compared with uncoated foams. Polyurethane foams with CNT coating have the potential to be used as bioactive scaffolds in bone tissue engineering due to their high interconnected porosity, bioactivity and nanostructured surface topography.
Zawadzak
Ewelina
E
Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Woloska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland.
Bil
Monika
M
Ryszkowska
Joanna
J
Nazhat
Showan N
SN
Cho
Johann
J
Bretcanu
Oana
O
Roether
Judith A
JA
Boccaccini
Aldo R
AR
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005740:Gases; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011140:Polyurethanes