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Microstructural and mechanical properties of porous biocomposite scaffolds based on polyvinyl alcohol, nano-hydroxyapatite and cellulose nanocrystals

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Abstract

In this study, in situ synthesis of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA)/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) organic–inorganic biocomposite porous scaffolds is reported. The effect of the CNC content on the properties of the biocomposite scaffold was investigated and characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, porosity and compressive strength measurements, thermal studies, and in vitro biomineralization and degradation studies. The morphological study showed highly porous structures with good pore interconnectivity in which n-HA was homogeneously dispersed. XRD analysis showed a decrease in the crystalline fraction and crystallite size of nano-hydroxyapatite with introduction of PVA and with increasing content of CNC. It was observed that the porosity decreased to some extent with increasing CNC content, while increases in the compressive strength (from 0.85 to 2.09 MPa) and elastic modulus (from 4.68 to 16.01 MPa) were found as the CNC content was increased. In vitro biomineralization study revealed the formation of apatite on PVA/n-HA/CNC biocomposite scaffolds when soaked for 7 and 14 days in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The obtained porous scaffolds offering good mechanical performance may provide a promising alternative scaffolding matrix for use in the field of bone tissue engineering.

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Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic force microscopy

CNC:

Cellulose nanocrystals

CPC:

Chemically purified cellulose

EDX:

Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction

FE-SEM:

Field-emission scanning electron microscopy

FTIR:

Fourier-transform infrared

n-HA:

Nano-hydroxyapatite

PBS:

Phosphate buffered saline

PVA:

Polyvinyl alcohol

SBF:

Simulated body fluid

SCB:

Sugarcane bagasse

TGA:

Thermogravimetric analysis

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), New Delhi for providing financial support to A.K. The authors would also like to acknowledge Dr. Bhupender Singh Butola (Department of Textile Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi) for providing access to the freeze-drying unit (Metrex Scientific Instruments Pvt. Ltd.) and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) for various other infrastructures required for advanced research work in the field of biocomposites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer and Process Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India

    Anuj Kumar & Yuvraj Singh Negi

  2. Centre for Polymer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Veena Choudhary

  3. Avantha Centre for Industrial Research and Development, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India

    Nishi Kant Bhardwaj

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  1. Anuj Kumar
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  2. Yuvraj Singh Negi
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  3. Veena Choudhary
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  4. Nishi Kant Bhardwaj
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Correspondence to Yuvraj Singh Negi.

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Kumar, A., Negi, Y.S., Choudhary, V. et al. Microstructural and mechanical properties of porous biocomposite scaffolds based on polyvinyl alcohol, nano-hydroxyapatite and cellulose nanocrystals. Cellulose 21, 3409–3426 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-014-0339-7

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