A biocompatible chitosan composite containing phosphotungstic acid modified single-walled carbon nanotubes.
Surface modification of carbon nanotubes is crucial for the dispersion and interfacial adhesion of carbon nanotubes in polymer composites. Here we present a novel method to construct single-walled carbon nanotube/chitosan composites using phosphotungstic acid as an anchor reagent to modify single-walled carbon nanotubes. The most direct benefit from this method is that this modification is mild but effective: the induced defects on single-walled carbon nanotubes are negligible based on Raman and transmission electron microscopy observations; and homogeneous dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in chitosan matrices and strong binding between single-walled carbon nanotubes and chitosan are achieved. Moreover, according to the results of tetrazolium-based colorimetric assays in vitro, we demonstrate that the produced phosphotungstic-acid-modified single-walled carbon nanotube/chitosan composites have good biocompatibility. Thus, our study provides a feasible route to fabricate biocompatible composites containing single-walled carbon nanotubes for potential application in bone tissue engineering.
Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, 100872, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Qichao
Q
Zhao
Jing
J
Yin
Xunda
X
Feng
Zujin
Z
Shi
Zigang
Z
Ge
Zhaoxia
Z
Jin
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002460:Cell Line; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods; D014965:X-Rays
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid