Impact of the Combined Use of Magnetite Nanoparticles and Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Shape-Memory Behavior of Hybrid Polyurethane Bionanocomposites.

Hybrid bionanocomposites with shape-memory behavior are reported. The materials were accessed by combining a polyurethane matrix with a highly renewable carbon content, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs). The integration of the two nanoparticle types resulted in tough materials that display a higher stiffness and storage modulus in the glassy and rubbery state, thus contributing to the structural reinforcement, as well as magnetic properties, reflecting a synergistic effect of this combination. A quantitative characterization of the thermoactivated shape-memory effect made evident that the addition of CNCs increases the shape fixity, due to the higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and the higher stiffness below Tg than the neat PU, while the addition of MNPs made it possible to activate the shape recovery by applying an alternating magnetic field. Moreover, the new hybrid bionanocomposites showed good bio- and hemocompatibility.

Biocompatible thermo- and magneto-responsive shape-memory polyurethane bionanocomposites.

Thermo- and magneto-responsive shape-memory bionanocomposites based on a bio-based polyurethane and magnetite nanoparticles were prepared. Due to the structure of the reactants, the behavior of the polyurethane matrix differs from common polyurethanes, since the soft segment was formed by a diisocyanate and a chain extender, whereas the macrodiol served as hard segment. The influence of the magnetite nanoparticles on the thermal and mechanical properties and the shape-memory behavior was studied. It was observed that magnetite nanoparticles interacted with macrodiol-rich domains and decreased the overall crystallinity of the material, although their presence did not affect the mechanical properties to a great extent. At the same time, the magnetite nanoparticles increased the shape fixity and contributed to shape recovery. The bionanocomposites exhibited magnetic behavior and could be easily heated in an alternating magnetic field, allowing fast and almost complete shape recovery. Preliminary cytotoxicity, hemocompatibility, and cell adhesion analysis suggest that the new materials are benign and potentially useful for biomedical applications.

Biocompatible hydrogel nanocomposite with covalently embedded silver nanoparticles.

Bionanocomposite materials, combining the properties of biopolymers and nanostructured materials, are attracting interest of the wider scientific community due to their potential application in design of implants, drug delivery systems, and tissue design platforms. Herein, we report on the use of maleimide-coated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) as cocross-linkers for the preparation of a bionanocomposite gelatin based hydrogel. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of benzotriazole maleimide (BTM) functionalized Ag NPs and furan containing gelatin in combination with additional amide coupling resulted in stable and biocompatible hybrid nanocomposite. The storage moduli values for the hydrogel are nearly three times higher than that of control hydrogel without NPs indicating a stabilizing role of the covalently bound NPs. Finally, the swelling and drug release properties of the materials as well as the biocompatibility and toxicity tests indicate the biomedical potential of this type of material.