Nanocomposites of poly( l -lactide) and surface-modified chitin whiskers with improved mechanical properties and cytocompatibility

Present status and application prospects of green chitin nanowhiskers: A comprehensive review

Petrochemical resources are non-renewable, which has impeded the development of synthetic polymers. The poor degradability of synthetic polymers poses substantial environmental pressure. Additionally, the high cost of synthetic biopolymers with excellent degradation performance limits their widespread application. Thus, it is crucial to seek green, sustainable, low-cost polymers as alternatives to petrochemical-based synthetic polymers and synthetic biopolymers. Chitin is a natural and renewable biopolymer discovered in crustacean shells, insect exoskeletons, and fungal cell walls. Chitin chains consist of crystalline and amorphous regions. Note that various treatments can be employed to remove the amorphous region, enhancing the crystallinity of chitin. Chitin nanowhiskers are a high crystallinity nanoscale chitin product with a high aspect ratio, a large surface area, adjustable surface morphology, and biocompatibility. They discover widespread applications in biomedicine, environmental treatment, food packaging, and biomaterials. Various methods can be utilized for preparing chitin nanowhiskers, including chemical, ionic liquids, deacetylation, and mechanical methods. However, developing an environmentally friendly preparation process remains a big challenge for expanding their applications in different materials and large-scale production. This article comprehensively analyzes chitin nanowhiskers' preparation strategies and their drawbacks. It also highlights the extensive application in different materials and various fields, besides the potential for commercial application.

The Effects of the Deacetylation of Chitin Nanowhiskers on the Performance of PCL/PLA Bio-Nanocomposites

The multiple roles of organic nanofillers in biodegradable nanocomposites (NC) with a blend-based matrix is not yet fully understood. This work highlights combination of reinforcing and structure-directing effects of chitin nanowhiskers (CNW) with different degrees of deacetylation (DA), i.e., content of primary or secondary amines on their surface, in the nanocomposite with the PCL/PLA 1:1 matrix. Of importance is the fact that aminolysis with CNW leading to chain scission of both polyesters, especially of PLA, is practically independent of DA. DA also does not influence thermal stability. At the same time, the more marked chain scission/CNW grafting for PLA in comparison to PCL, causing changes in rheological parameters of components and related structural alterations, has crucial effects on mechanical properties in systems with a bicontinuous structure. Favourable combinations of multiple effects of CNW leads to enhanced mechanical performance at low 1% content only, whereas negative effects of structural changes, particularly of changed continuity, may eliminate the reinforcing effects of CNW at higher contents. The explanation of both synergistic and antagonistic effects of structures formed is based on the correspondence of experimental results with respective basic model calculations.

Covalent Immobilization of Natural Biomolecules on Chitin Nanocrystals

As a highly crystalline and renewable natural polymer nanomaterial, chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) have attracted intense interest in the biomedical field. The structure of a ChNC is composed of an acetylglucosamine unit containing two hydroxyl groups and an acetyl group. The acetyl group can be converted to the active amino group through deacetylation, which is under the condition of maintaining the rod-like morphology and high crystalline property and is beneficial for the following modification and potential application. We investigated the relationship between different treatments and varied crystallinities of the modified ChNC, which obtained surface amino groups and aldehyde groups and retained high crystallinity. The natural biomolecules were covalently immobilized on the surface of the ChNC. The etherification was performed based on the hydroxyl groups. Based on the amino groups and the aldehyde groups, the carboxyamine and Knoevenagel condensation reactions were realized on ChNCs. Finally, natural biomolecule-modified ChNCs showed no or low cytotoxicity, antibacterial properties, and high antioxidant properties, which extended their potential biomedical applications.

Enhancement of strength and toughness of bio-nanocomposites with good transparency and heat resistance by reactive processing

Growing concerns in addressing environmental challenges are driving the rapid advancement of both bio-based and environmental friendly materials. Biodegradable polymers have been compounded with various nanofillers to fulfill the multiple requirements in real applications. However, current technologies remain to be improved in terms of the intrinsic inferior performance and the lack of interfacial interactions. In this work, we employed a facile route to develop bio-nanocomposites integrating multiple functionalities by reactive processing of polylactide and reactive boehmite nanorods. The grafting of polymer chains onto the surface of the nanorods encourages fully homogeneous dispersion of nanofillers with even 30 wt% loadings. Such nanocomposites exhibit simultaneously enhanced tensile strength, modulus, ductility, and impact strength. Moreover, the bio-based nanocomposites present promising features such as high transparency, improved flame resistance, and heat resistance. This work demonstrates exciting opportunities to produce bio-plastics with diverse functionalities in versatile applications of sustainable packaging industry and engineering plastics.

Quantification of energy input required for chitin nanocrystal aggregate size reduction through ultrasound

Nanoparticles have been claimed to contribute efficiently to e.g. the mechanical strength of composite materials when present as individual particles. However, these particles tend to aggregate. In this paper we prepare nanocrystals from chitin, a product with high potential added value for application in bio-based materials, and investigate the effect of ultrasound on de-aggregation. Chitin nanocrystals with a length ~ 200 nm and a diameter ~ 15 nm, were obtained via acid hydrolysis of crude chitin powder. Freeze drying resulted in severe aggregation and after redispersion sizes up to ~ 200 µm were found. Ultrasound treatment was applied and break up behaviour was investigated using static light scattering, dynamic light scattering, and laser diffraction. Our results suggest that the cumulative energy input was the dominant factor for chitin nanocrystal aggregate breakup. When a critical energy barrier of ~ 100 kJ/g chitin nanocrystals was exceeded, the chitin nanocrystal aggregates broke down to nanometre range. The break up was mostly a result of fragmentation: the aggregation energy of chitin nanocrystal aggregates was quantified to be ~ 370 kJ/g chitin nanocrystals and we hypothesize that mainly van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds are responsible for aggregation.

Functional Nanocomposite Films of Poly(Lactic Acid) with Well-Dispersed Chitin Nanocrystals Achieved Using a Dispersing Agent and Liquid-Assisted Extrusion Process

The development of bio-based nanocomposites is of high scientific and industrial interest, since they offer excellent advantages in creating functional materials. However, dispersion and distribution of the nanomaterials inside the polymer matrix is a key challenge to achieve high-performance functional nanocomposites. In this context, for better dispersion, biobased triethyl citrate (TEC) as a dispersing agent in a liquid-assisted extrusion process was used to prepare the nanocomposites of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs). The aim was to identify the effect of the TEC content on the dispersion of ChNCs in the PLA matrix and the manufacturing of a functional nanocomposite. The nanocomposite film's optical properties; microstructure; migration of the additive and nanocomposites' thermal, mechanical and rheological properties, all influenced by the ChNC dispersion, were studied. The microscopy study confirmed that the dispersion of the ChNCs was improved with the increasing TEC content, and the best dispersion was found in the nanocomposite prepared with 15 wt% TEC. Additionally, the nanocomposite with the highest TEC content (15 wt%) resembled the mechanical properties of commonly used polymers like polyethylene and polypropylene. The addition of ChNCs in PLA-TEC15 enhanced the melt viscosity, as well as melt strength, of the polymer and demonstrated antibacterial activity.

Preparation and evaluation of osteogenic nano-MgO/PMMA bone cement for bone healing in a rat critical size calvarial defect

The clinical outcomes of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement used to fill gaps or marrow cavities of bones and bone defects are limited due to poor handling properties, mismatched mechanical properties with natural bone and lack of osteogenesis for bone healing. In this study, a series of PMMA bone cements containing active nano-MgO particles (nano-MgO/PMMA) were prepared. The handling and mechanical properties were systemically evaluated according to an International Standardization Organization standard (ISO 5833:2002). The biocompatibility and osteogenic activity of nano-MgO/PMMA were also analysed in vitro. The osteogenic effects of nano-MgO/PMMA were assessed in a rat calvarial critical bone defect model. The addition of less than 15 wt% nano-MgO to PMMA improved the handling properties of PMMA. Compared with PMMA, the compression modulus and strength of 20MP (20 wt% nano-MgO to PMMA) decreased to 0.725 ± 0.023 GPa and 25.38 ± 2.82 MPa, respectively. In vitro studies with MC3T3-E1 showed that nano-MgO/PMMA had better biocompatibility than the PMMA group after 7 days of culture. The nano-MgO/PMMA groups showed more calcium nodules and higher osteogenic gene expression levels than PMMA after 12 days of osteogenic induction of the rat BMSCs. The in vivo studies analysed by micro-CT and histomorphology results proved that nano-MgO/PMMA could significantly enhance new bone formation. The mean new bone mineral density in the nano-MgO/PMMA group was 50% greater than that in the PMMA group. In addition, biomechanical tests showed that nano-MgO/PMMA was superior to PMMA in bone-bonding strength after 12 weeks implantation. Therefore, the nano-MgO/PMMA bone cement has good potential in joint fixation and bone defect filling applications.

Enzymatic Degradation of Nanosized Chitin Whiskers with Different Degrees of Deacetylation

In order to study the relationship between the degree of deacetylation of chitin whiskers (CHWs) and their enzymatic degradation properties, in this paper, CHWs were first deacetylated to different degrees by alkali treatment, and the CHWs with the degrees of deacetylation of 17.84, 67.76, and 82.54% was obtained, respectively. Moreover, the partially deacetylated CHWs still maintained good crystallinity and nanoneedle-like morphology. Next, the in vitro degradation behavior of CHWs with different degrees of deacetylation was further studied under the single or synergistic action of lysozyme and lipase (37 °C, pH = 7.4). The results showed that the morphology change of CHWs was more obvious as the degree of deacetylation increased. The mass loss, the crystallinity index at the (110) crystal plane, and the concentration of reducing sugar of the CHWs also increased with the degree of deacetylation. Moreover, the synergistic effect of the two enzymes was more conducive to the degradation process of CHWs than single lysozyme or lipase. The difference in the rate of enzymatic degradation provides an idea for the regulation of the degradation rate of the CHWs.

Synergistic effect of functionalized poly(l-lactide) with surface-modified MgO and chitin whiskers on osteogenesis in vivo and in vitro

Favorable cytocompatibility and osteogenesis potential are critical for the development of a bone repair material. In this study, two types of surface-modified whiskers, grafted magnesia and chitin (g-MgO and g-CHN) whiskers, were synthesized and introduced into a poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) matrix singly or together to prepare PLLA/g-MgO/g-CHN composite films and bone nails via injection molding. On the account of the synergetic contribution of g-MgO and g-CHN whiskers, the enhanced cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation of mouse embryo osteoblast precursor (MC3T3-E1) cells, as well as the alteration of cell-cycle and inhibition of cell apoptosis, were observed on PLLA/g-MgO/g-CHN film as compared to pure PLLA, PLLA/g-MgO and PLLA/g-CHN films. More importantly, the highest level of the secretion of ALP and the formation of calcium deposition, accompanied with expression of osteogenesis genes (ALP, Runx-2, COL I, OCN) in vitro were obtained for the PLLA/g-MgO/g-CHN film among all of the material groups. Additionally, the PLLA and PLLA composite bone nails were implanted in rabbits' femurs and new bone formation was detected on PLLA/g-MgO/g-CHN group after 16 weeks of implantation by 3D reconstruction of micro-CT and histological analyses. Besides, the bending strength of defected bone repaired by PLLA/g-MgO/g-CHN bone nail was high to 48 MPa, which was far stronger than other bone nail groups. Overall, this study demonstrated the addition of g-MgO and g-CHN whiskers together in PLLA matrix played a synergistic promoting role in cell affinity and osteogenic differentiation, and the developed PLLA/g-MgO/g-CHN composites hold great potential in fields of bone repair.

Triethyl Citrate (TEC) as a Dispersing Aid in Polylactic Acid/Chitin Nanocomposites Prepared via Liquid-Assisted Extrusion

The production of fully bio-based and biodegradable nanocomposites has gained attention during recent years due to environmental reasons; however, the production of these nanocomposites on the large-scale is challenging. Polylactic acid/chitin nanocrystal (PLA/ChNC) nanocomposites with triethyl citrate (TEC) at varied concentrations (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt %) were prepared using liquid-assisted extrusion. The goal was to find the minimum amount of the TEC plasticizer needed to enhance the ChNC dispersion. The microscopy study showed that the dispersion and distribution of the ChNC into PLA improved with the increasing TEC content. Hence, the nanocomposite with the highest plasticizer content (7.5 wt %) showed the highest optical transparency and improved thermal and mechanical properties compared with its counterpart without the ChNC. Gel permeation chromatography confirmed that the water and ethanol used during the extrusion did not degrade PLA. Further, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed improved interaction between PLA and ChNC through hydrogen bonding when TEC was added. All results confirmed that the plasticizer plays an important role as a dispersing aid in the processing of PLA/ChNC nanocomposites.

Icariin immobilized electrospinning poly(l-lactide) fibrous membranes via polydopamine adhesive coating with enhanced cytocompatibility and osteogenic activity

In this study, icariin (ICA), one of the main active ingredients of Herba Epimedii for osteogenesis, was applied to functionalize electrospinning poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) fibrous membrane via an intermediate layer of polydopamine (PDA) to obtain enhanced cytocompatibility and osteogenic activity. For this purpose, an array of PDA-coated PLLA fibrous membranes (PLLA-0.5PDA, PLLA-1PDA, PLLA-2PDA, PLLA-5PDA) and ICA-modified PLLA-2PDA fibrous membranes (PLLA-2PDA-10ICA, PLLA-2PDA-20ICA, PLLA-2PDA-40ICA) were successively prepared. Successful modification of PDA and ICA onto PLLA fibrous membranes was verified by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Besides, the hydrophilicity as well as tensile properties of PLLA fibrous membrane were improved after surface modified with PDA and ICA. In vitro cells culture experiments revealed that the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells on the PLLA fibrous membrane were significantly improved by successively immobilized with PDA and ICA. Moreover, the concentration of ICA immobilized on the fibrous membranes has the complicated effects on the MC3T3-E1 cells behavior. The PLLA-2PDA-ICA fibrous membranes with low ICA concentration promoted the cell adhesion and proliferation, but on the contrary, those with high ICA concentration were more beneficial to the enhancement in ALP activity and calcium deposition.