Transcrystalline growth of PLLA on carbon fiber grafted with nano-SiO(2) towards boosting interfacial bonding in bone scaffold

BACKGROUND: The reinforcement effect of fiber-reinforced polymer composites is usually limited because of the poor interfacial interaction between fiber and polymer, though fiber reinforcement is regarded as an effective method to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer. METHODS: In this study, nano-SiO(2) particles grafted by 3-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH560) were introduced onto the surface of 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) modified carbon fiber (CF) by a self-assembly strategy to improve the interfacial bonding between CF and biopolymer poly (lactic acid) (PLLA). RESULTS: The results indicated that PLLA chains preferred to anchor at the surface of nano-SiO(2) particles and then formed high order crystalline structures. Subsequently, PLLA spherulites could epitaxially grow on the surface of functionalized CF, forming a transcrystalline structure at the CF/PLLA interface. Meanwhile, the nano-SiO(2) particles were fixed in the transcrystalline structure, which induced a stronger mechanical locking effect between CF and PLLA matrix. The results of tensile experiments indicated that the PLLA/CF-SiO(2) scaffold with a ratio of CF to SiO(2) of 9:3 possessed the optimal strength and modulus of 10.11 MPa and 1.18 GPa, respectively. In addition, in vitro tests including cell adhesion and fluorescence indicated that the scaffold had no toxicity and could provide a suitable microenvironment for the growth and proliferation of cell. CONCLUSION: In short, the PLLA/CF-SiO(2) scaffold with good mechanical properties and cytocompatibility had great potential in the application of bone tissue engineering.