title: A facile and green emulsion casting method to prepare chitin nanocrystal reinforced citrate-based bioelastomer.
abstract: Chitin nanocrystal (ChiNC) is a promising reinforcing nanofiller for biomedical polymers. However, its self-aggregation characteristics caused processing difficulty in developing ChiNC-based nanocomposites. Herein, a new degradable crosslinked bioelastomer, designated as poly(1,8-octanediol-co-Pluronic F127 citrate) (POFC) was synthesized by melt polycondensation of citric acid, 1,8-octanediol, and Pluronic F127. In comparison to poly(1,8-octanediol citrate) (POC), POFC pre-polymer exhibited self-emulsifying property. Once ChiNC was introduced into the emulsion, a ChiNC stabilized Pickering emulsion was formed. Coupled with a facile green emulsion casting/evaporation method, the ChiNC ultimately reinforced ChiNC/POFC nanocomposite elastomer was fabricated. The presence of F127 segments endowed POFC with better hydrophilicity and shorter degradation time relative to POC. The incorporation of ChiNC into POFC network led to highly increased tensile modulus and strength. In vitro cytotoxicity tests indicated that the ChiNC/POFC elastomer nanocomposite had a good cytocompatibility and it appeared as a potential biomaterial for tissue engineering application.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
authors.forename: Yaling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China. Electronic address: jiyali@dhu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002686:Chitin; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers; D004655:Emulsions; D011108:Polymers; D002686:Chitin; D019343:Citric Acid
keywords: Bioelastomer; Chitin nanocrystal; Emulsion; Nanocomposite; Pluronic F127