title: Manipulation of mechanical compliance of elastomeric PGS by incorporation of halloysite nanotubes for soft tissue engineering applications.
abstract: Poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a promising elastomer for use in soft tissue engineering. However, it is difficult to achieve with PGS a satisfactory balance of mechanical compliance and degradation rate that meet the requirements of soft tissue engineering. In this work, we have synthesised a new PGS nanocomposite system filled with halloysite nanotubes, and mechanical properties, as well as related chemical characters, of the nanocomposites were investigated. It was found that the addition of nanotubular halloysite did not compromise the extensibility of material, compared with the pure PGS counterpart; instead the elongation at rupture was increased from 110 (in the pure PGS) to 225% (in the 20 wt% composite). Second, Young's modulus and resilience of 3-5 wt% composites were ∼0.8 MPa and >94% respectively, remaining close to the level of pure PGS which is desired for applications in soft tissue engineering. Third, an important feature of the 1-5 wt% composites was their stable mechanical properties over an extended period, which could allow the provision of reliable mechanical support to damaged tissues during the lag phase of the healing process. Finally, the in vitro study indicated that the addition of halloysite slowed down the degradation rate of the composites. In conclusion, the good compliance, enhanced stretchability, stable mechanical behavior over an extended period, and reduced degradation rates make the 3-5 wt% composites promising candidates for application in soft tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia. qizhi.chen@monash.edu
authors.forename: Qi-Zhi
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D000077215:Clay; D003651:Decanoates / Q000737:chemistry*; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry; D005990:Glycerol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003651:Decanoates; D020724:Elastomers; D005663:Furans; D011108:Polymers; C469892:poly(glycerol-sebacate); C018674:tetrahydrofuran; D005990:Glycerol; D000077215:Clay