“Biocompatibility of PTFE-based terpolymer and PSU polymers modified
with single wall carbon nanotubes and short carbon fibers”
1
A. Fraczek1, M. Kostarek1, M. Blazewicz1, B.Czajkowska2
AGH-University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Material Science and Ceramics,
Department of Biomaterials, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow
2
Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian University, Department of Immunology, Krakow
Introduction:
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are considered as ideal materials for several applications, have
unique mechanical, physical and chemical properties and are more and more explored in
biomedical engineering and medical chemistry. Carbon fibers obtained from
polyacrylonitrile- based polymer can be used for variety of applications in medical fields.
Both carbon nanotubes and short carbon fibers have been considered as very promising
materials for bone tissue engineering. These material may be used as a constituent for
modification of the surface properties like roughness and wettability. The aim of the work
was to study viability of the cells on the two types polymer matrix composites: one of them
were modified with single wall carbon nanotubes and the second short carbon fibers.
Materials and methods:
Single wall carbon nanotubes received from NanoCraft, Inc. of Renton, and carbon fibers
obtain from Soficar Co., France were used. Six kind of samples based on terpolymer and
PSU have been prepared: PR1-pure PTFE-based terpolymer, PR2-pure PSU polymer samples,
PR3-single nanotubes/terpolymer composite, PR4-carbon fibers/terpolymer composite, PR5single nanotubes/PSU composite, PR6-carbon fibers/PSU composite. The surface
characteristic was studied by contact-angle measurement (DSA 10 Kruss). The roughness of
the composite surface was determined by surface profilometry (Hommel Tester T1500).
Viability of the osteoblast cells on composites surface was studied by MTT test. Viability of
the cells was determined after 7 days seeding. HS-5 human cells were used in this
experiments.
Results:
Our study indicates that composites containing carbon nanotubes and carbon fibers have
different surface properties in comparison to pure terpolymer and PSU matrix. The water
contact-angles measured for two types polymer carbon composite have almost the same
value. It indicates that the presence of carbon nanotubes and fibers does not change
wettability of polymers surface.
The roughness of terpolymer composites carbon nanotubes and fibers are higher in
comparison with pure terpolymer and polysulfone composites.
Viability of osteoblast cells on terpolymer-base composites are higher in comparing with
polysulfone carbon samples. The higest viability of the cells are notice for carbon
fibers/terpolymer composite and single nanotubes/terpolymer composite is the range from
110% to120%. For all polysulfone samples viability of the cells have almost the same value.
Conclusion:
This preliminary “in vitro” study indicates that both types of polymers composites are
biocompatibility with osteoblast cells. The obtained results suggest that PSU and mainly
PTFE-based terpolymer modified carbon fibers and nanotubes may be considered as materials
for bone tissue engineering. However, future study is needed for better understanding
processes involved in the interaction between carbon phase-polymer matrix and cells.
Keywords: polysulfone, PTFE-based terpolymer, nanocomposites, viability of the cells
Acknowledgement:
The work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Statute
Investigation No. 11.11.160.367