Sub-nanoscale free volume and local elastic modulus of chitosan–carbon nanotube biomimetic nanocomposite scaffold-materials

Journal article

Future progress in materials for tissue engineering and 3D cell cultures applications requires control of two key physical properties: nanoscale mechanical properties and mass transport. These requirements remain uncontrolled partly due to a lack of physical parameters and quantitative measurements. Using chitosan scaffolds as a model system in close-to-physiological conditions and a combination of experimental techniques and theory, we link structure with local nanomechanical properties. Additionally we introduce a parameter, the free volume, to predict variations in transport properties. By fabricating nanocomposites with single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) we are able to test our approach: incorporation of acid-treated, soluble, [similar]80 nm SWNTs in a chitosan matrix leads to a 2 fold increase in mean local elastic modulus and a decrease of 3% of the free volume available for oxygen diffusion. Inclusion of hydrophobic, [similar]800 nm SWNTs leads to a 100 fold increase of elastic modulus and doubles the voids percentage available for the transport of glucose.

Authors: Axpe, E; Bugnicourt, L; Merida, D; Goiriena-Goikoetxea, M; Unzueta, I

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry B
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 16
• Pages: 3169-3176
• Publication date: 2015-01-01
• DOI: 10.1039/C5TB00154D
• EISSN: 2050-7518
• ISSN: 2050-750X