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pps proceeding
Symposium: S09 - Polymer nanocomposites
Oral Presentation
 
 

BENEFIT OF CLAY IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITE FOR BIOMEDICAL ENGENEERING: FROM CLAY PROPERTIES TO POLYMER COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE

Bastianini Maria (1)*, Sisani Michele (1), Petracci Annarita (1), Scatto Marco (2), Scopece Paolo (2), Patelli Alessandro (3)

(1) Prolabin & Tefarm - PG - Italy, (2) Nadir S.r.l - VE - Italy, (3) Department of Physics and Astronomy, Padova University - PD - Italy

Polymers are key building blocks in the development of smart material for biomedical applications, and a lot of polymers offer unique properties for specific applications. An increased matrix of material options is available through the use of polymer compounds. These compounds can incorporate performance-enhancing fillers, which provide properties not possible with ordinary polymers alone. An interesting and promising class of filler for polymeric composite are Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) LDHs are anionic clays that, due to the presence of exchangeable anions in the interlayer regions can be used as a host for antimicrobial, antioxidant, antibiotic anions which can be intercalated by ionic exchange process in the metal hydroxide sheets. So the organic guest anions can improve the compatibility of the inorganic layers with the polymeric matrix, and the mechanical, thermal, gas barrier properties of the composite. LDHs can also confers to polymer composite biological activity. A very interesting approach for the production of Bionanocomposite is used in our H2020 Project - FAST "Functionally Graded Additive Manufacturing Scaffolds by Hybrid Manufacturing" (NMP07, GA n. 685825), where processing parameters during Melt Compounding in Twin Screw Extruder, preparation method, feed composition, clay morphology, clay intercalation process were properly modulated until obtaining polymer clay Bionanocomposite with mechanical, reological, and biological properties useful for the preparation of scaffold prototypes for the bone regeneration using a 3D printer device (Bioscaffolder). In this work we have correlated morphological properties of LDH intercalated with antibiotic molecules, evaluated by XRD and SEM analyses with processing parameters of Twin Screw Extrusion in order to obtain a Bionanocomposite with intercalated/exfoliated morphology and with tuneable controlled release of antibiotic.