title: A nanostructured carbon-reinforced polyisobutylene-based thermoplastic elastomer.
abstract: This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of a polyisobutylene (PIB)-based nanostructured carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer. This thermoplastic elastomer is based on a self-assembling block copolymer having a branched PIB core carrying -OH functional groups at each branch point, flanked by blocks of poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene). The block copolymer has thermolabile physical crosslinks and can be processed as a plastic, yet retains its rubbery properties at room temperature. The carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer had more than twice the tensile strength of the neat polymer, exceeding the strength of medical grade silicone rubber, while remaining significantly softer. The carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer displayed a high T(g) of 126 degrees C, rendering the material steam-sterilizable. The carbon also acted as a free radical trap, increasing the onset temperature of thermal decomposition in the neat polymer from 256.6 degrees C to 327.7 degrees C. The carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer had the lowest water contact angle at 82 degrees and surface nano-topography. After 180 days of implantation into rabbit soft tissues, the carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer had the thinnest tissue capsule around the microdumbbell specimens, with no eosinophiles present. The material also showed excellent integration into bones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA. jpuskas@uakron.edu
authors.forename: Judit E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Puskas
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Foreman-Orlowski
authors.forename: Goy Teck
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Porosky
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Evancho-Chapman
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Mirosława
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Fray
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piatek
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prowans
authors.forename: Krystal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lovejoy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002244:Carbon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D020724:Elastomers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011090:Polyenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011817:Rabbits; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D013696:Temperature; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers; D010969:Plastics; D011090:Polyenes; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; C008967:polyisobutylene