Collagen/aminated MWCNTs nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Abstract Collagen (COL) is a biopolymer that widely used for a number of medical treatments especially haemostatic applications. To enhance the medical performance of COL and explore an alternative approach, its modification using Carbon Nanotubes is considered. To treat a valuable cross linking and chemical bonding, aminated MWCNTs (MWCNT-NH2)s, which introduced the aromatic amine on the side wall of MWCNTs, were jointed to the COL sponges (COLSP)s. To explore the origin of this behaviour, dispersion of MWCNT-NH2s on COLSPs and their interfacial interactions were investigated by SEM, FT-IR and XPS. The analytical results show a relatively strong interaction existed between aminated MWCNTs and the sidewall of COLSPs. The hydrophilicity test results revealed significant increment in water uptake of MWCNT-NH2s/COL composites with increasing the concentration of MWCNT-NH2s until 13 wt%. Additionally, the addition of aminated MWCNTs decreases the coagulation time of anti coagulated rabbit blood, indicating that the MWCNT-NH2s/COLSPs have significant pro-coagulant activity. Due to agglomeration of MWCNT-NH2s in solution, also, the surface limitation of sponges, increment in concentration of MWCNT-NH2s up to 14 wt% is not adequate. This study promises that the MWCNT-NH2s cross-linked COL fibres present mechanical strength significantly higher than that of neat COL fibres.