Boron nitride nanotube reinforced polylactide-polycaprolactone copolymer composite: mechanical properties and cytocompatibility with osteoblasts and macrophages in vitro.
Biodegradable polylactide-polycaprolactone copolymer (PLC) has been reinforced with 0, 2 and 5wt.% boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) for orthopedic scaffold application. Elastic modulus of the PLC-5wt.% BNNT composite, evaluated through nanoindentation technique, shows a 1370% increase. The same amount of BNNT addition to PLC enhances the tensile strength by 109%, without any adverse effect on the ductility up to 240% elongation. Interactions of the osteoblasts and macrophages with bare BNNTs prove them to be non-cytotoxic. PLC-BNNT composites displayed increased osteoblast cell viability as compared to the PLC matrix. The addition of BNNTs also resulted in an increase in the expression levels of the Runx2 gene, the main regulator of osteoblast differentiation. These results indicate that BNNT is a potential reinforcement for composites for orthopedic applications.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA.
Debrupa
D
Lahiri
Francois
F
Rouzaud
Tanisha
T
Richard
Anup K
AK
Keshri
Srinivasa R
SR
Bakshi
Lidia
L
Kos
Arvind
A
Agarwal
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001896:Boron Compounds; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D011091:Polyesters; C493709:RUNX2 protein, human; C016240:polycaprolactone; C017282:boron nitride; C033616:poly(lactide); D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase