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Double hydrophilic ABA-type amphiphilic polyurethane (PU)-based poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP)-b-PU-b-PNVP and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-b-PU-b-PNIPAM triblock copolymers have successfu...

Hydrogel composites from polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan have been developed by various researchers as a function of their composition for various medical applications. Although, the solubility of chitosan in acidic solvents may limit its wide bioengineering applications. In this article, we demonstrate that polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan oligosaccharide (water soluble) to develop cross-linked hydrogel network using chemical cross linker. X ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and wettability study of these hydrogels were also performed. Lomefloxacin drug was loaded into the hydrogels and its release profile was studied.

Amyloids are a group of proteins that are capable of forming aggregated amyloid fibrils, which is responsible for many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In our previous study, synthesis and characterization of star-shaped poly(D,L-lactide)-b-gelatin (ss-pLG) have been reported. In the present work, we have extended our work to study ss-pLG against protein aggregation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the inhibition of amyloid fibrillation by protein grafted poly(D,L-lactide). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was chosen as the model protein, which readily forms fibril under high temperature. We found that ss-pLG efficiently suppressed the fibril formation of BSA compared with gelatin (Gel), which was supported by Thioflavin T assay, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, ss-pLG significantly curtailed amyloid-induced hemolysis. We also found that incubation of ss-pLG with neuroblastoma cells (MC65) protected the cells from fibril-induced toxicity. The rescuing efficiency of ss-pLG was better than Gel, which could be attributed to the reduced lamella thickness in branched ss-pLG. These results suggest the significance of gelatin grafting, which probably allows gelatin to interact with the key residues of the amyloidogenic core of BSA effectively.

A novel, water-soluble, luminescent anthracene-bridged AA-type bi-arm poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (ATC-PNVP) was synthesized using a click reaction between alkyne-terminated PNVP and 9,10-bis(azidomethyl)anthracene. The resultant anthracene-bridged PNVP (ATC-PNVP) was characterized using 1H NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods and GPC analysis. ATC-PNVP showed effective fluorescence properties in an aqueous medium. It showed highly selective "turn off" sensing behaviour towards picric acid, a common nitro-aromatic explosive, with a wide linear range of detection of 0.01-0.3 mM and LOD value of 0.006 mM in water. ATC-PNVP-based paper sensors also showed very effective detection of picric acid in the concentration range 0.001-1.0 mM. Its binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied using steady-state, synchronous and 3D fluorescence spectroscopy and this study showed effective quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA and occurrence of a FRET-type interaction. Furthermore, this luminescent ATC-PNVP was efficiently used as a fluorescence microscopy labelling agent in NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells, and showed greater uptake and hence better fluorescent labelling in the cytosols of the tested cells than free 9,10-bis(azidomethyl) anthracene. The cell viability study also showed a very good biocompatible and non-toxic nature of ATC-PNVP at lower working concentrations towards each of the types of cells tested.

Surface and mechanical properties of the biomaterials are determinants of cellular responses. In our previous study, star-shaped poly(d,l-Lactide)-b-gelatin (ss-pLG) was reported for possessing improved cellular adhesion and proliferation. Here, we extended our investigation to establish the cellular compatibility of gelatin-grafted PDLLA with respect to mechanical properties of biological tissues. In this view, linear PDLLA-b-gelatin (l-pLG) was synthesized and tissue-level compatibility of 1-pLG and ss-pLG against fibroblasts (L929), myoblasts (C2C12) and preosteoblasts (MG-63) was examined. The cell proliferation of C2C12 was significantly higher within l-pLG scaffolds, whereas L929 showed intensified growth within ss-pLG scaffolds. The difference in cell proliferation may be attributed to the varying mechanical properties of scaffolds; where the stiffness of l-pLG scaffolds was notably higher than ss-pLG scaffolds, most likely due to the variable levels of gelatin grafting on the backbone of PDLLA. Therefore, gelatin grafting can be used to modulate mechanical property of the scaffolds and this study reveals the significance of the matrix stiffness to produce the successful 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

The aim of this study was to examine the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of functionalized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites. The biocompatibility of the LDH-based nanocomposites of thiosulphate PVC (TS-PVC), thiourea PVC (TU-PVC) and sulphite PVC (S-PVC) was assessed via haemolysis and thrombogenicity tests followed by the analysis of cellular adhesion and proliferation. The MTT assay was performed on cells in direct contact with the polymeric nanocomposites to evaluate the side effects of the biomaterials. The cellular morphology of mouse mesenchymal stem cells was also analyzed after incubation with direct contact with the functionalized polymer nanocomposites for different time periods. Although the results of the haemolysis test displayed a positive influence of LDH on the functionalized PVC compared to the neat PVC, the thrombogenic property was observed to be notably decreased, which indicated improved blood compatibility. The resulting LDH samples were also studied for their performance via fluorescence imaging of cells after incubation with the materials. The LDH-based polymers exhibited an excellent level of cytocompatibility, which validates their use as biomaterials. PVC-TU/LDH-2 and PVC-S-2 were found to be notably less cytotoxic for the tested cell type. Also, the cells were found to adhere better to the entire PVC-S/LDH nanocomposite surface. The cytotoxicity test also revealed that the PVC-TU/LDH and PVC-S/LDH nanocomposites exhibited similar responses. The fluorescence-based image analysis showed that cells were spread much more on the polymer surface containing a higher LDH weight percentage. Overall, this study provides a benchmark for the biocompatibility properties of PVC/LDH nanocomposites, which may be useful for numerous applications in the biomedical and related areas.

Bone cement has found extensive usage in joint arthroplasty over the last 50 years; still, the development of bone cement with essential properties such as high fatigue resistance, lower exothermic temperature, and bioactivity has been an unsolved problem. In our present work, we have addressed all of the mentioned shortcomings of bone cement by reinforcing it with graphene (GR), graphene oxide (GO), and surface-modified amino graphene (AG) fillers. These nanocomposites have shown hypsochromic shifts, suggesting strong interactions between the filler material and the polymer matrix. AG-based nanohybrids have shown greater osteointegration and lower cytotoxicity compared to other nanohybrids as well as pristine bone cement. They have also reduced oxidative stress on cells, resulting in calcification within 20 days of the implantation of nanohybrids into the rabbits. They have significantly reduced the exothermic curing temperature to body temperature and increased the setting time to facilitate practitioners, suggesting that reaction temperature and settling time can be dynamically controlled by varying the concentration of the filler. Thermal stability and enhanced mechanical properties have been achieved in nanohybrids vis-à-vis pure bone cement. Thus, this newly developed nanocomposite can create natural bonding with bone tissues for improved bioactivity, longer sustainability, and better strength in the prosthesis.

Biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is widely used to fabricate 3D scaffolds for tissue regeneration. However, PLA lacks cell adhering functional moieties, which limit its successful application in tissue engineering. Herein, we have tailored the cell adhesive properties of star shaped poly(d,l-lactide) (ss-PDLLA) by grafting gelatin to their 4 arms. Grafting of gelatin on PDLLA backbone was confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR. The synthesized star shaped poly(d,l-lactide)-b-gelatin (ss-pLG) exhibited enhanced wettability and protein adsorption. The modification also facilitated better cell adhesion and proliferation on their respective polymer coated 2D substrates, compared to their respective unmodified ss-PDLLA. Further, 3D scaffolds were fabricated from gelatin grafted and unmodified polymers. The fabricated scaffolds were shown to be cytocompatible to 3T3-L1 cells and hemocompatible to red blood cells (RBCs). Cell proliferation was increased up to 2.5-fold in ss-pLG scaffolds compared to ss-PDLLA scaffold...

Very recently, we have reported a novel peroxidase mimetic material, brominated graphene (GBR) having ∼3% bromine content, which, in combination with H2O2 and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), has shown the property of S2− ion recognition (Anal. Chem., 2017, 89, 783–791). In the present work, we further have investigated the kinetic assay and colorimetric sensing ability of GBR towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and glucose. The Michaelis–Menten constants (Km) and maximum initial velocities (Vmax) of GBR have been found to be 10.98 mM and 3.60 × 10−8 M s−1, respectively, for H2O2 and 0.83 mM and 0.68 × 10−8 M s−1, respectively, for TMB. A sensor combining TMB and GBR has been fabricated, which, upon addition to H2O2 or glucose with glucose oxidase solution at pH 4.48, showed colorimetrically a significant increase in the oxidation of TMB. The fabricated sensor system has displayed linearity for H2O2 and glucose estimation in the range 0.50–5.00 mM and 40–100 mM, respectively, and the corresponding limits of detection are found to be 0.417 and 28.41 mM, respectively. The present sensor system is also highly reproducible and selective. The results of real samples using this colorimetric method have been found to be comparable with the conventional auto-analyser method.

Brominated graphene (GBR) with ∼3% bromine content has shown novel peroxidase mimetic activity toward 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2. Optimum activity has been observed at pH 4.48 and after a minimum ∼30 min of equilibration time. Among the different analytes studied using the sensor combining TMB, H2O2, and GBR in phosphate buffer of pH 4.48, the S2– ion has effectively shown a short duration of sensing (∼2 min) within the detection range of 0.04–1 mM. A calibration curve for S2– ion estimation has been constructed with the experimental linearity in 0.04–0.4 mM range and having the limit of detection (LOD) value of 25.3 μM. A standard addition experiment has validated the method. A paper strip sensor has been fabricated for successful detection of S2– ion.

A series of ABA type well-defined amphiphilic poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP)-b-poly(D,L-lactide)-b-PNVP triblock copolymers have been synthesized via the combination of ring opening polymerization and xanthate-mediated reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, and analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Aggregation properties of these amphiphilic triblock copolymers have been revealed by fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, and supported by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Doxorubicin (DOX) has successfully been loaded into the block copolymer micelles with a loading efficiency of 37.5%. DOX-loaded PNVP51-b-PDLLA48-b-PNVP51 block copolymer showed sustained release within 36 h. Antibacterial properties of DOX-loaded micelles have been found to be significantly effective with respect to free DOX in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration, disk diffusion assay, growth curve, bacterial reduction and enzymatic assay based on in vitro studies.

Alkyne-terminated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been synthesized via ROP at room temperature. Amphiphilic PLGA-b-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP) block copolymers have been synthesized via alkyne-azide click reaction of it with azide-terminated PNVPs prepared by RAFT polymerization of NVP using an azide-terminated RAFT agent. 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) confirmed the formation of block copolymers. Self-assembly of these block copolymers was confirmed by fluorescence study using pyrene as a probe and supported by 1H NMR, DLS and TEM studies. Hydrophobic drug doxorubicin was successfully encapsulated at the micellar core of PLGA46-b-PNVP89 with drug-loading content (DLC) and drug-loading efficiency (DLE) of 10.8 and 43.2 %, respectively. Sustained drug release of these drug-loaded micelles was observed at both pH of 6.4 and 7.4. Faster drug release was observed at pH 6.4. Such PLGA-b-PNVP amphiphilic block copolymer may find extensive application in sustained drug delivery, specifically in antitumor drug delivery.

We have synthesized a well-defined four-arm star amphiphilic block copolymer [poly(DLLA)-b-poly(NVP)]4 [star-(PDLLA-b-PNVP)4] that consists of D,L-lactide (DLLA) and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) via the combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and xanthate-mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Synthesis of the polymer was verified by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The amphiphilic four-arm star block copolymer forms spherical micelles in water as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Pyrene acts as a probe to ascertain the critical micellar concentration (cmc) by using fluorescence spectroscopy. Methotrexate (MTX)-loaded polymeric micelles of star-(PDLLA15-b-PNVP10)4 amphiphilic block copolymer were prepared and characterized by fluorescence and TEM studies. Star-(PDLLA15-b-PNVP10)4 copolymer was found to be significantly effective with respect to inhibition of proliferation and lysis of human and murine lymphoma cells. The amphiphilic block copolymer causes cell death in parental and MTX-resistant Dalton lymphoma (DL) and Raji cells. The formulation does not cause hemolysis in red blood cells and is tolerant to lymphocytes compared to free MTX. Therapy with MTX-loaded star-(PDLLA15-b-PNVP10)4 amphiphilic block copolymer micelles prolongs the life span of animals with neoplasia by reducing the tumor load, preventing metastasis and augmenting CD8+ T cell-mediated adaptive immune responses.

An implant material when comes in contact with blood fluids (e.g., blood and lymph), adsorb proteins spontaneously on its surface. Notably, blood coagulation is influenced by many factors, including mainly chemical structure and polarity (charge) of the material. The present study describes the methodology to improve the blood compatibility of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) by incorporating ionic groups with varying polarities. PMMA has been functionalized with different groups containing positive, negative and neutral polarity by the free radical polymerization technique and such modification were further confirmed through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The level of thrombogenicity was found three times lower with negatively charged PMMA in comparison to those of positively charged and neutral PMMA. Platelet adhesion was noted almost negligible in all samples after 10 s of blood exposure. High adsorption of fibrinogen from the blood was noticed in the test sample containing a group with positive polarity (thiouronium chloride) while there was no platelet adhesion observed even after 120 s of blood exposure in the test samples containing negatively charged (sulphate) and neutral (hydroxyl group) functional groups.

Some physical properties of high molecular weight linear poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)s (PNIPAM) having different isotacticities (m, meso dyad = 47, 62, 68, 81, and 88 %) have been studied. The solubility of these polymers in different solvents varied with their isotacticity. Thermal degradation of higher isotactic polymer started slightly earlier. Cloud point of these polymers in water gradually decreased with increase in m up to 68 %. Surface tension of these polymers in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was slightly lower than DMF and almost independent of their isotacticity in the temperature range of 20–60 °C. But it decreased linearly with the increase in temperature. Moreover, for all polymers, it decreased very slightly with the increase in their concentrations in the range of 0.001–0.01 % (w/v). Viscosity of these polymers in DMF increased with (i) the increase in the concentration range of 1–5 % (w/v), (ii) the increase in their m values, and (iii) the decrease in the temperature in the range of 20–60 oC.

The polymeric materials have been extensively studied for the biomedical applications in the last few decades. Hydrogels are high water content materials prepared from physically or chemically cross-linked polymers that can leverage therapeutically beneficial outcomes of drug delivery owing to their tunable physical properties, controllable degradability, and capability to protect labile drugs from degradation. Among this, smart or stimuli responsive hydrogels are of a class, where these materials are highly responsive even to the slight changes in their environments. In this chapter, we cover the basic synthesis of stimuli responsive materials and the drug release from the matrix. We also discuss how the drug delivery system varies on the stimuli responsive hydrogel system. Thus, this chapter will enhance the understanding about stimuli-responsive hydrogels especially based on poly(lactic acid), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), and chitosan-based polymers for the controlled drug delivery applications.

Tadpole-shaped β-cyclodextrin-tagged poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (β-CD-PNVP) has been synthesised via the click reaction of alkyne-terminated PNVP and azide-functionalized β-CD. The formed polymer is characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, and TGA study. The complexing ability of such a polymer with phenolphthalein is considerably lower with respect to that with β-CD alone. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded β-CD-PNVP (DOX-β-CD-PNVP) exhibits higher tumoricidal activity against a panel of tumor cell lines derived from sarcoma (U2-OS) and carcinomas (MCF-7 and HEPG2), causing significant lysis of tumor cells compared to free DOX. The formulation also demonstrates significantly higher uptake by the tumor cells and enhances apoptosis compared to free DOX.

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was modified with three different ionomers including thiosulphate, thiourea and sulphite for improving the biocompatibility of the polymer. All ionomers were prepared by nucleophilic substitution using a phase transfer catalyst method. The modified forms of PVC were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). They were found to be less stable thermally compared to the untreated polymer. The biocompatibility of the polymers was evaluated by assessing their wettability via contact angle measurements and by performing hemolysis and thrombogenicity assays. Their cellular biocompatibility was evaluated by assessing their adhesion and proliferation, and by carrying out cytotoxicity assays and nuclear staining. The results reveal that modification of the polymer with the specified ionomers significantly enhances the bio- and blood-compatibility properties.

Poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PNVP)-grafted graphene oxide (GO) (GO-PNVP) has been synthesized using a GO-based macro-RAFT agent prepared via click reaction of alkyne-terminated RAFT agent (S)-2-(propynyl propionate)-(o-ethyl xanthate) and azide-functionalized GO (GO-N3). FTIR, XPS, Raman, TGA and DSC studies confirmed its formation. Silver nanoparticles are then immobilized on GO-PNVP and GO via in situ reduction of silver nitrate in the presence and absence of glucose at 40 and 95 °C, respectively. FT-IR, UV-Vis, XRD, SEM and TGA studies supported the incorporation of silver (Ag) nanoparticles. Ag nanoparticles immobilized on GO-PNVP are small, spherical and narrowly distributed (homogenous, monodisperse) compared to GO. These nanocomposites are explored as catalysts for the reduction of p-nitrophenol into p-aminophenol and also as antibacterial agents towards Gram(+) S. aureus and Gram(−) E. coli bacteria. Ag nanoparticle immobilized GO-PNVP showed efficient catalytic activity and excellent reusability along with an excellent antibacterial activity. Hence, grafting of PNVP enhances the catalytic and antibacterial properties of GO.

A novel nanohybrid based on bone cement has been developed which is capable of healing fractured bone in 30 days, one-third of the time required for the natural healing process. Nanohybrids of bone cement based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), currently used as a grouting material in joint replacement surgery, were prepared by simple mixing with organically modified layered silicates of varying chemical compositions. The temperature arising from exothermic polymerization in one of the nanohybrids is 12 °C lower than that in pure bone cement, thus circumventing the reported cell necrosis that occurs during implantation with pure bone cement. The thermal stability and mechanical superiority of this nanohybrid were verified in terms of its higher degradation temperature, better stiffness, superior toughness, and significantly higher fatigue resistance compared with pure bone cement; these properties make it appropriate for use as an implant material. The biocompatibility and bioactivity of the nanohybrid were confirmed using cell adhesion, cell viability, and fluorescence imaging studies. Osteoconductivity and bone bonding properties were monitored in vivo in rabbits through radiographic imaging and histopathological studies of growing bone and muscle near the surgery site. The observed dissimilarity of the properties of two different nanoclays used as fillers were visualized through interactions measured using spectroscopic techniques. Studies of the influence of different elements on bioactivity showed a higher efficiency for the nanoclay containing greater amounts of iron.

Well-defined amphiphilic four-arm star diblock copolymers of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP) have successfully been synthesized by combining the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of e-caprolactone (CL) and xanthate-mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP). The resulting block copolymer shows the formation of spherical micelles in water as revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and supported by light-scattering study. The critical micellar concentration (cmc) value of the micelle increases with the increase in the PNVP block length. Hydrodynamic diameter distribution of the micelles decreases with the increase in the PNVP block length. The effective hydrodynamic ratio (R h) remains almost constant over the angles of scattering measurements above the corresponding cmc value. The usefulness of the synthesized star amphiphilic block copolymers was checked by the successful synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Well-defined four-arm star poly(e-caprolactone)-b-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) amphiphilic block copolymers are prepared by the combination of ring opening polymerization and xanthate-mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and their self-assembly properties are studied using 1H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and TEM.

Well-defined amphiphilic poly( d , l -lactide)- b -poly( N -vinylpyrrolidone) (PDLLA- b -PNVP) block copolymers were successfully prepared using ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and xanthate-mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Synthesized PDLLA- b -PNVP block copolymers were characterized by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and GPC. Spherical micelles of ∼30.2 nm diameter were formed from the aqueous solution of amphiphilic diblock copolymer PDLLA 42 - b -PNVP 63 as revealed by TEM and supported by 1 H NMR and light scattering. The critical micelle concentration value of the block copolymers, determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as probe, increased with the increase in the chain length of PNVP block. The average hydrodynamic radius ( R h ) of the micelles remained almost constant above the cmc value over the angles of scattering measurement. Thermal properties of these block copolymers were studied by TGA, DTA and DSC. Crystalline properties of these block copolymers were studied by WXRD.

A nonlinear mathematical model is developed analytically to study the flow characteristics of visco-elastic fluid through a visco-elastic pipe when it is subjected to external body acceleration. The equations governing the motion of the system are solved analytically with the use of appropriate boundary conditions. For the present scope of study the flow of visco-elastic fluid (blood) in smaller artery which is visco-elastic in nature has been taken. The artery is assumed to be a flexible cylindrical tube containing a non-Newtonian fluid. The unsteady flow mechanism in the artery is subjected to a pulsatile pressure gradient arising from the normal functioning of the heart and also the external body acceleration. Numerical models have finally been developed for Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluid in order to have a thorough quantitative measure of the effects of body acceleration on the flow velocity, volume flow rate and the wall shear stress of blood in normal human artery and when the artery gets stiffer, just to validate the applicability of the present mathematical model.

Increased use of composites in aerospace and defense application induces the search for heat resistant material. In present study silica reinforced epoxy functionally graded material using quartz fabric is prepared with different thickness. The gradation in silica : epoxy matrix is maintained with one side pure epoxy to opposite side pure silica. Thermal and mechanical behaviour of the composites were studied. It was found that the temperature gradient of 350°C to 950°C could be maintained for 2 to 5 min if the thickness of insulating silica layer is increased from 0.5 mm to 16 mm. Mechanical properties such as flexural modulus and strength of FGM composites were also evaluated. Strength and modulus decreased with increase of insulating layer.

Drawbacks of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based bone cement as a grouting agent for in vivo fixation of orthopedic and dental implants such as considerable low mechanical strength have been improved using nanotechnology. Bone cement-layered silicate nanocomposites have been prepared without any heat treatment in the presence of polar (dimethyl formamide, DMF) and nonpolar (benzene) solvents. Solvents have been removed completely from the bone cement after its preparation. Nanostructure is very much dependent on the solvent used for nanocomposite preparation, and benzene-based nanocomposites are highly intercalated, whereas DMF-based nanocomposites do not exhibit intercalation. Thermal stability of bone cement has improved in the presence of nanoclays. The relative enhanced interaction in case of benzene-based nanocomposites has been shown through FTIR and UV–vis studies. The significant improvement in modulus and toughness of bone cement has been demonstrated in the presence of minimum amount of nanoclay for benzene-based nanocomposites, whereas no change in modulus and reduced toughness have been observed for DMF-based nanocomposites. The decrease of contact angle has been witnessed with increasing nanoclay concentration indicating better hydrophilic materials suitable for biomedical applications for greater cell growth. The reason for varying property enhancement in different solvents has been discussed considering the polarity effect and interactions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

Poly (vinyl chloride)(PVC) is a cheapest plastic. Importance of PVC based ionomer has been gradually being popularizing due to compatibility of PVC with a number of salts to replace polyethylene oxide based ionomer. Under present investigation few of chloride group of PVC chain have been replaced by basic thiouronium group and these thiouronium groups are further oxidized to sulfonate group. Introduction of thiouronium group in PVC is confirmed through FTIR and further its oxidation to sulfonate group is also confirmed by FTIR. Conductivity in different stoichiometric ratio of PVCTU and PVCSO3H was studied and found that PVCTU : PVCSO3H in 1:1 ratio has conductivity near to pure PVC (10 -9 Ohm -1 cm -1 ) and increases with proportion of PVCSO 3 Na in the mixture (10 -6 Ohm -1 cm -1 ) for pure PVC, PVCTU has less conductivity not much significant.

Contact glow-discharge electrolysis (CGDE) is an unconventional electrolytic phenomenon in which a plasma is sustained by a direct current (dc) glow-discharge between an electrode and the liquid electrolyte around it. A remarkable feature of CGDE is highly nonfaradaic chemical effects at the glow-discharge electrode. During anodic CGDE of an aqueous electrolyte, non-Faradaic yields originate mainly from reactions triggered by H• and OH• radicals generated in high local concentrations near the anodic plasma/liquid electrolyte interface during the process. The radical-generating potentiality of anodic CGDE was explored for the polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous media. The percentage of monomer conversion, rate of polymerization, charge efficiency, and viscometric average molar mass of the polymers produced were measured as functions of the quantities of electricity passed. The charge efficiency of the polymerization of acrylamide by anodic CGDE was at least 1 order of magnitude higher than that of ordinary electrochemically initiated polymerization. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1584–1588, 2001

Plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) has been used as biomaterial to make medical equipment. An appropriate reaction situation by temperature at 60-85°C for the surface modification of PVC sheet with sodium thiourea has been investigated. Although, the use of a phase-transfer catalyst (Tetra butyl ammonium hydrogen sulphate-TBHAS) makes it feasible for the nucleophilic substitution reaction to take place, the morphology of the film is changed by the reaction, leading to a loss in both surface smoothness and transparency of the film. According to this study, the reaction with sodium thiourea occurs consistently through the sheets, and modified surface have antibacterial capacity.

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-based bone cement and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites have been used as a grouting material for total joint arthroplasty. Few weight percentage of nanoLDH was uniformly dispersed in the bone cement matrix to have adequate interaction with matrix polymer. Mechanical strength, stiffness, toughness, and fatigue resistance of the nanocomposites are found to be higher than that of pure bone cement. Nanocomposites are thermally stable as compared to pristine bone cement. Direct mixing of the nanoLDH without any organic solvent makes these nanocomposites biocompatible. Biocompatibility was evaluated and compared with that of commercial bone cement by measuring hydrophilic nature, hemolysis assay, thrombosis assay, and deposition of apatite in simulated body fluid immersion. Finally, the viability of human osteoblast cells on the above developed nanocomposites was testified for actual biocompatibility. The experiment showed better cell growth in nanocomposites as compared to pure bone cement. Thus, these nanocomposites are found to be better grouting material than bone cement. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A:3363–3373, 2012.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) based bone cement and its nanocomposites with layered double hydroxide (LDH) have been developed with greater mechanical strength and biocompatibility as a grouting material for total joint arthroplasty. Bivalent magnesium has been replaced with trivalent aluminium with various mole ratios, keeping the layered pattern of the LDH intact, to cater for the effect of varying substitution on the property enhancement of the nanocomposites. The intercalation of polymer inside the LDH layers makes them disordered and mechanically stiffer and tougher by more than 100%. The thermal stability of bone cement has increased by more than 30 °C in the presence of 1 wt% of nanoLDH, homogenously distributed in the bone cement matrix by creating an inorganic thermal barrier out of the LDH dispersion. The improvement in the properties of the nanocomposites has been explained in terms of the strong interaction between nanoLDH and polymer. The superior bioactivity and biocompatibility of the nanocomposites, as compared to pure bone cement, has been established through hemolysis assay, cell adhesion, MTT assay and cell proliferation using fluorescence imaging. The developed nanocomposites have been used as a grouting material and significant improvements have been achieved in fatigue behaviour with gradual increment of Al substitution in the Mg : Al mole ratio in nanoLDH, demonstrating the real use of the material in the biomedical area. In vivo experiments on rabbits clearly revealed the superior efficacy of bone cement nanocomposites, over pure bone cement and a blank.

La GPC de polymeres non polaires contenant des fonctions ioniques terminales conduit a des resultats errones, il est est necessaire de remplacer ces groupes terminaux ioniques par des groupes neutres

Intermolecular association of some polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) samples bearing sulphate and/or sulphonate end-groups prepared by using the redox initiator systems K 2 S 2 O 8 + NaHSO 3 , Na 2 SO 3 + Cu 2+ , NaHSO 3 + O 2 has been studied for dilute solutions in toluene, chloroform, o -dichlorobenzene, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and ethyl acetate respectively by viscometry and in toluene and THF by osmometry. Significant association of the polymers occurs in toluene, chloroform and o -dichlorobenzene in the dilute solutions used in this work. However, association is significantly reduced in chloroform containing 2% ethanol or in toluene containing 2% methanol. Tetrahydrofuran appears to be the preferred solvent for determining the molecular weights of such polymers, since association is insignificant in this solvent.

Polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol (PANI-PVA) interpenetrating network composite film is successfully prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline within PVA film embedded with different concentrations of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). The resulted composite is characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, SEM and XRD, TGA techniques and confirmed the formation of interpenetrating network formation of PANI within PVA matrix. Electrical conductivity of the composite films increase from 10−6 to 10−2 S/cm with the increase in the loading of dichromate from 10−4 to 10−2M. Further, exposing in humidity environment, the conductivity of the composite films increases from 14 to 100% with the increase in humidity conditions from 11.3 to 84.3%.