Biocompatibility of poly(lactic acid) with incorporated graphene-based materials

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Artur M. Pinto (Author) FEUP; Susana Moreira (Author) Other; Inês C. Gonçalves (Author) FEUP; Francisco M. Gama (Author) Other; Adélio M. Mendes (Author) FEUP; Fernão D. Magalhães (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

Vol. 104 No. 1 April 2013

Pages: 229-238

ISSN: 0927-7765

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 81 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 111 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Materials engineering

Associated Projects

UI0511 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - UI 511 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-005-26P

DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2012.12.006

Abstract (EN): The incorporation of graphene-based materials has been shown to improve mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). In this work, PLA films and composite PLA films incorporating two graphene-based materials - graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) - were prepared and characterized regarding not only biocompatibility, but also surface topography, chemistry and wettability. The presence of both fillers changed the films surface topography, increasing the roughness, and modified the wettability - the polar component of surface free energy increased 59% with GO and decreased 56% with GNP. Mouse embryo fibroblasts incubated with both fillers exceeded the IC50 in both cases with a concentration of 10 mu g mL(-1). No variations in cell proliferation at the surface of the composite films were observed, except for those containing GO after 24h incubation, which presented higher cell proliferation than pristine PLA films. Platelet adhesion to PLA and PLA/GNP films was lower in the presence of plasma proteins than when no proteins were present. Furthermore, incorporation of GNP into PLA reduced platelet activation in the presence of plasma proteins. The results indicated that low concentrations of GO and GNP may be incorporated safely in PLA to improve aspects relevant for biomedical applications, such as mechanical properties.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10