Calcium silicate nanowires - An effective alternative for improving mechanical properties of chitosan-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer nanocomposites.

Nanowires of calcium silicate were successfully synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation process and incorporated into chitosan and hydroxyetheyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer matrix by solution blending for efficacious preparation of biodegradable nanocomposites. Remarkable improvement in mechanical properties of the nanocomposites was noticed after micro-tensile analysis. Enlarged surface area and higher aspect ratio of CaSiO3 nanowires were the key factors responsible for such improvement. This was supported by EDS and XRD analysis in terms of proper distribution of nanofiller through the copolymer matrix and corresponding rise in percentage crystallanity respectively. Contact angle and biodegradation studies further clarified that nano-CaSiO3 did not affect the hydrophilicity and general degradation route of chitosan copolymer respectively. This renders the nano-CaSiO3 as an ideal substitute for preparing high performance nanocomposites to be applicable for biomedical applications.

Effect of calcium sulphate nanorods on mechanical properties of chitosan-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer nanocomposites.

Copolymers of chitosan and hydroxyetheyl methacrylate (HEMA) were successfully synthesized using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator, via in situ polymerization method, followed by efficacious preparation of their nanocomposites by incorporating calcium sulphate nanorods via solution blending process. Hydrophilicity studies confirmed that grafting of HEMA in the backbone of the hydrophobic chitosan chains induced the improvement in hydrophilicity of chitosan, while mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were also enhanced significantly up to 20%, due to availability of enlarged surface area and higher aspect ratio of CaSO4 nanorods. This was supported by FE-SEM and XRD analysis in terms of proper distribution of nanofiller through the copolymer matrix and corresponding rise in percentage crystallanity respectively. Results obtained from biodegradation studies proved the efficiency of CaSO4 nanofillers to improve biomechanical strength of chitosan nanocomposites, without affecting their normal degradation profile that renders the products to be applicable for biomedical applications.