Effect of Different Compatibilizers on the Properties of Green Low-Density Polyethylene Composites Reinforced with Bambusa Vulgaris Bamboo Fibers.

Low-density green polyethylene (LDGPE) composites reinforced with 5 wt% of bamboo fiber and 3 wt% of a compatibilizing agent (polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride and tannin) were processed through extrusion and injection molding. Bamboo fiber, Bambusa Vulgaris, was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The molded specimens were analyzed for their thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties. The estimated concentration was chosen to provide the best mechanical strength to the material studied. FTIR analysis of the fibers revealed the presence of groups characteristic of bamboo fiber and tannin. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that both compatibilizing agents increased the matrix's degree of crystallinity. However, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that, despite the presence of compatibilizing agents, there was no significant improvement in adhesion between the bamboo fibers and LDGPE.

Conformational Changes of Poly(Maleic Anhydride-alt-styrene) Modified with Amino Acids in an Aqueous Medium and Their Effect on Cytocompatibility and Hemolytic Response.

The conformational changes of poly(maleic anhydride-alt-styrene) (PSMA) modified with different amino acids (PSMA-Aa) were studied in an aqueous medium as a function of ionic strength and pH. The specific viscosity of PSMA-Aa decreased with increasing salt concentration due to a more compact conformation. There was a decrease in surface tension with increasing concentrations of the modified polyelectrolyte having a greater effect for the PSMA modified with l-phenylalanine at pH 7.0, demonstrating a greater surface-active character. The conformational changes were also confirmed by molecular dynamics studies, indicating that PSMA-Aa exhibits a compact structure at pH 4.0 and a more extended structure at pH 7.0. On the other hand, the conformational changes of PSMA-Aa were related to its biological response, where the higher surface-active character of the PSMA modified with l-phenylalanine correlates very well with the higher hemolytic activity observed in red blood cells, in which the surface-active capacity supports lytic potency in erythrocytes. The cytocompatibility assays indicated that there were no significant cytotoxic effects of the PSMA-Aa. Additionally, in solvent-accessible surface area studies, it was shown that the carboxylate groups of the PSMA modified with l-phenylalanine are more exposed to the solvent at pH 7.0 and high salt concentrations, which correlates with lower fluorescence intensity, reflecting a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. It is concluded that the study of the conformational changes in PE modified with amino acids is essential for their use as biomaterials and relevant to understanding the possible effects of PE modified with amino acids in biological systems.

Toward the Improvement of Maleic Anhydride Functionalization in Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB): Effect of Styrene Monomer and Sn(Oct)2 Catalyst.

In this work, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) was maleic anhydride (MA)-grafted in the molten state, using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a reaction initiator. Tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)2) and styrene monomer (St.) were used to maximize the maleic anhydride grafting degree. When PHB was modified with MA/DCP and MA/DCP/Sn(Oct)2, viscosity was reduced, suggesting chain scission in relation to pure PHB. However, when the styrene monomer was added, the viscosity increased due to multiple grafts of MA and styrene into the PHB chain. In addition, the FTIR showed the formation of a new band at 1780 cm-1 and 704 cm-1, suggesting a multiphase copolymer PHB-g-(St-co-MA). The PHB (MA/DCP) system showed a grafting degree of 0.23%; however, the value increased to 0.39% with incorporating Sn(Oct)2. The highest grafting efficiency was for the PHB (MA/DCP/St.) system with a value of 0.91%, while the PHB (MA/DCP/St./Sn(Oct)2) hybrid mixture was reduced to 0.73%. The chemical modification process of PHB with maleic anhydride increased the thermal stability by about 20 °C compared with pure PHB. The incorporation of 0.5 phr of the Sn(Oct)2 catalyst increased the efficiency of the grafting degree in the PHB. However, the St./Sn(Oct)2 hybrid mixture caused a deleterious effect on the maleic anhydride grafting degree.

Grafting of maleic anhydride on poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite composites augments their ability to support osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Implantation of bone substitutes is the treatment of choice for bone defects exceeding a critical size, when self-healing becomes impossible. The use of 3D printing techniques allows the construction of scaffolds with customized properties. However, there is a lack of suitable materials for bone replacement. In this study, maleic anhydride-grafted poly (lactic acid) (MAPLA) was investigated as a potential compatibilizer agent for 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA)/hydroxyapatite (HA) composites, in order to enhance the physicochemical and biological properties of the scaffolds. The grafting process was performed by reactive processing in a torque rheometer, with the evaluation of the use of different concentrations of maleic anhydride (MA). The success of the grafting reaction was confirmed by titration of acid groups and spectroscopic analyses, indicating the presence of succinic anhydride groups on the PLA chain. Morphological analysis of the PLA/HA 3D scaffolds, using SEM, revealed that the use of the compatibilizer resulted in a structure free from voids and holes. The compatibilization also increased the degradation process. On the other hand, TGA and DSC analyses revealed that the use of a compatibilizer had little effect on the thermal properties of the composite. Most importantly, the samples with compatibilizer were demonstrated to have a minimal cytotoxic effect on human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), promoting the osteogenic differentiation of these cells in a medium without the addition of classical osteogenic factors. Therefore, the grafting of PLA/HA composites improved their physicochemical and biological properties, especially the induction of MSC osteogenic differentiation, demonstrating the potential of these scaffolds for bone tissue replacement.

Anaerobic biodegradation under slurry thermophilic conditions of poly(lactic acid)/starch blend compatibilized by maleic anhydride.

TPS/MA/PLA is a blend of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polylactic acid (PLA) compatibilized by maleic anhydride (MA) that can be a substitute for petro-based plastics in certain applications. At the end of its life, this material must be properly disposed in treatment systems such as composting or anaerobic digestion. The biodegradability of TPS/MA/PLA, PLA, TPS and the non-compatible mixture (TPS/PLA) was evaluated in a slurry thermophilic anaerobic digestion system (STAD) according to ISO 13975-2012 standard. The anaerobic inoculum was prepared from cow manure and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. After 31 days of incubation, the pure PLA exhibited a 12-day lag phase and 40.41% of biodegradability. TPS, TPS/PLA and TPS/MA/PLA did not exhibit lag phase and reached 92.11%, 65.48% and 64.82% of biodegradation respectively. The slow degradation rate of PLA is attributed to its high glass transition temperature and crystallinity. In TPS/MA/PLA and TPS/PLA, about 50% of PLA and 13% to 10% of the TPS remains undegraded and MA did not affect the biodegradation of TPS/MA/PLA compared to TPS/PLA. Results suggest that, in very short retention times STAD systems, PLA based materials could not exhibit enough biodegradability.

Influence of compatibilizer on the properties of low-density polyethylene/polyamide 6 blends obtained by mechanical recycling of multilayer film waste.

Polymeric wastes have caused increasing environmental problems, mainly in oceans that accumulate large amounts of non-degradable plastic waste. Particularly, waste of polymeric multilayer films for packaging presents low interest for mechanical recycling due to the poor properties and low commercial value of the recycled material generated as polymeric blends. Multilayer films of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyamide 6 (PA6) is a typical material used for packaging applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of the concentration of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE- g-MA) on the compatibilization of LDPE/PA6 blends generated from mechanical recycling of multilayer films containing both polymers. The action of the PE- g-MA on the properties of the LDPE/PA6 blends was evaluated by tensile tests, optical microscopy, melt flow rate, and scanning electron microscopy. The use of PE- g-MA at 2.5 wt% as a compatibilizer during reactive extrusion of the multilayer films waste has showed the best result for production of the respective recycled LDPE/PA6 blends.

Relationship between the Polymeric Ionization Degree and Powder and Surface Properties in Materials Derived from Poly(maleic anhydride-alt-octadecene).

Polymeric materials derived from poly(maleic anhydride-alt-octadecene)-here referred as PAM-18-have shown interesting properties that make them potential pharmaceutical excipients. In this work, eight polymers derived from PAM-18 were obtained using NaOH and KOH at 1:1; 1:0.75, 1:0.5, and 1:0.25 molar ratios. The resulting products were labeled as PAM-18Na and PAM-18K, respectively. Each polymer was purified by ultrafiltration/lyophilization, and the ionization degree was determined by potentiometric studies, which was related to the zeta potential. The structural characterization was performed using the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) espectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The physical characterization was carried out by SEM, particle analysis, and humidity loss and gain studies; the surface studies were performed by the sessile drop method. PAM-18Na had ionization degrees of 95%, 63%, 39% and 22%, whereas those for PAM-18K were 99%, 52%, 35% and 20%, respectively. The results also showed that for higher inorganic base amounts used, the polymeric materials obtained possess high ionization degrees, which could form polymeric solutions or hetero-dispersed systems. Likewise, it was observed that for higher proportions of carboxylate groups in the polymeric structure, the capability to retain water is increased and, only can be eliminated by drying at temperatures greater than 160 °C. On the other hand, the modification of PAM-18 to its ionized forms led to the formation of powder materials with low flowability and surfaces that ranged from very hydrophobic to slightly wettable.

Preparation and Characterization of Extruded Composites Based on Polypropylene and Chitosan Compatibilized with Polypropylene-Graft-Maleic Anhydride.

The preparation of composites of synthetic and natural polymers represent an interesting option to combine properties; in this manner, polypropylene and chitosan extruded films using a different proportion of components and polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) as compatibilizer were prepared. The effect of the content of the biopolymer in the polypropylene (PP) matrix, the addition of compatibilizer, and the particle size on the properties of the composites was analyzed using characterization by fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile strength, and contact angle, finding that in general, the addition of the compatibilizer and reducing the particle size of the chitosan, favored the physicochemical and morphological properties of the films.

Preparation and characterization of mucoadhesive nanoparticles of poly (methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) containing glycyrrhizic acid intended for vaginal administration.

Traditional vaginal preparations reside in the vaginal cavity for relatively a short period of time, requiring multiple doses in order to attain the desired therapeutic effect. Therefore, mucoadhesive systems appear to be appropriate to prolong the residence time in the vaginal cavity. In the current study, mucoadhesive nanoparticles based on poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) (PVM/MA) intended for vaginal delivery of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) (a drug with well-known antiviral properties) were prepared and characterized. Nanoparticles were generated by a solvent displacement method. Incorporation of GA was performed during nanoprecipitation, followed by adsorption of drug once nanoparticles were formed. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size, Z-potential, morphology, drug loading, interaction of GA with PVM/MA (by differential scanning calorimetry) and the in vitro interaction of nanoparticles with pig mucin (at two pH values, 3.6 and 5; with and without GA adsorbed). The preparation method led to nanoparticles of a mean diameter of 198.5 ± 24.3 nm, zeta potential of -44.8 ± 2.8 mV and drug loading of 15.07 ± 0.86 µg/mg polymer. The highest mucin interaction resulted at pH 3.6 for nanoparticles without GA adsorbed. The data obtained suggest the promise of using mucoadhesive nanoparticles of PVM/MA for intravaginal delivery of GA.

Preparation of extruded polyethylene/chitosan blends compatibilized with polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride.

Novel films of polyethylene and chitosan were obtained using extrusion. These polymers have interesting properties, and processing them with methods that are of high use in the industry, such as the extrusion method, can have a significant effect on the potential applications of these materials. The individual materials were thermally characterized; after this, extruded films of low density polyethylene and chitosan mixtures were prepared with the addition of polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer for the blends, and glycerol, as a plasticizer for chitosan. The use of compatibilizer and plasticizer agents improved the processability and compatibility of the mixtures, as well as their mechanical properties, as revealed by mechanical property measurements and scanning electron microscopy. It was possible to prepare blends with a maximum chitosan content of 20 wt%. The material stiffness increased with the increase of chitosan in the sample. FTIR studies revealed the existence of an interaction between the compatibilizer and chitosan.

Preparation and Characterization of Films Extruded of Polyethylene/Chitosan Modified with Poly(lactic acid).

The use of mixtures of synthetic and natural polymers is a potential option to reduce the pollution by plastic waste. In this work, the method for the chemical modification of chitosan with poly(lactic acid) was developed; then, the preparation of films of blends of polyethylene and chitosan-poly(lactic acid) produced by an extrusion method using polyethylene-graft maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer. It was possible to obtain films with a maximum content of 20 wt% and 30 wt%, chitosan, with and without compatibilizer, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed a homogeneous surface on all films. The addition of the compatibilizer had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the films, such as an increase in Young's modulus and a decrease in the elongation at break; additionally, the compatibilizer promotes thermal degradation in a single step and gives the film a slight increase in thermal resistance. These results are attributed to an improved interaction in the interface of polyethylene and chitosan-poly(lactic acid), promoted by the compatibilizer.