View in EDS

Advancing synthetic bone tissue engineering materials: Nano-scale investigation into transitional Interface in carbon dots/ polymer composites.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Advancing synthetic bone tissue engineering materials: Nano-scale investigation into transitional Interface in carbon dots/ polymer composites.
Authors: Gao, Woming1 (AUTHOR), Cheng, Zeming1,2 (AUTHOR), Gregory, David A.1,2 (AUTHOR), Knight, Alexander J.3 (AUTHOR), Tartakovskii, Alexander I.3 (AUTHOR), Rodenburg, Cornelia1,2 (AUTHOR) c.rodenburg@sheffield.ac.uk, Farr, Nicholas T.H.1,2 (AUTHOR) n.t.farr@sheffield.ac.uk, Claeyssens, Frederik1,2 (AUTHOR) f.claeyssens@sheffield.ac.uk
Source: Journal of Colloid & Interface Science. Dec2025:Part 3, Vol. 700, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Carbon nanodots, Polymeric composites, Nanoscience, Bone substitutes, Biocompatibility, Three-dimensional printing, Mechanical behavior of materials
Abstract: Identifying suitable biocompatible and processable materials that mimic the properties of native bone tissue remains a significant challenge in bone tissue engineering (BTE). Polymerized Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate (PTMPTA), a rapid photocurable, stiff, bioinert thermoset polymer, has previously suggested as matrix of BTE composites, but still lacks mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and printing accuracy, which need to be improved to meet BTE requirements. In this study, citric acid carbon dots (CA CDs) synthesized via microwave pyrolysis were blended into the PTMPTA matrix. Nano-scale spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques for the first time revealed the transitional interface layers with different chemical structures between CA CDs and PTMPTA. Those transitional interface layers facilitate uniform stress distribution, enhance load transfer, prevent debonding caused by CDs agglomeration, reduce over-curing and thermal stress and improving surface cell adhesion and proliferation, together with CA CDs enhancing mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and processability of the resulting composite. Ultimately, composite incorporating 8 wt% CA CDs was determined to the highest mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and 3D printing accuracy, achieving a 3.5-fold increase in compressive Young's modulus and load-bearing capacity, a 1.5-fold increase in tensile Young's modulus, and a 2-fold cell surface proliferation compared to pure PTMPTA, and has successfully approached the target 3D printing accuracy. This work opens the door to the vast compositional space of different carbon dot/polymer composites targeting the demanding requirements of BTE and lays the foundation for future BTE materials. An overview of the production process of CA CDs/PTMPTA composites is presented, along with the role of the transitional interface layer formed between CA CDs and PTMPTA in enhancing composite properties. The composite containing 8 wt% CA CDs exhibited a 3.5-fold increase in compressive strength, a 1.5-fold improvement in tensile strength, and a 2-fold enhancement in cell proliferation compared to pure PTMPTA. Furthermore, the 8 wt% CA CDs/PTMPTA composite achieved superior 3D printing accuracy, whereas pure PTMPTA failed to reproduce the intended design structure. [Display omitted] • Novel citric acid carbon dots (CA CDs)/polymerized trimethylolpropane triacrylate (PTMPTA) composites were developed. • Transitional interfacial layers between CA CDs and PTMPTA are observed for the first time through nano-scale spectroscopy techniques. • Transitional interfaces are possible to cause the enhancement of composites. • The composite with 8 wt% CDs increases compressive ability 3.5-fold, tensile ability 1.5-fold, and cell growth 2-fold vs PTMPTA. • 8 wt% CDs/PTMPTA composite shows top print accuracy, compared to PTMPTA failed to match the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Colloid & Interface Science is the property of Academic Press Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Identifying suitable biocompatible and processable materials that mimic the properties of native bone tissue remains a significant challenge in bone tissue engineering (BTE). Polymerized Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate (PTMPTA), a rapid photocurable, stiff, bioinert thermoset polymer, has previously suggested as matrix of BTE composites, but still lacks mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and printing accuracy, which need to be improved to meet BTE requirements. In this study, citric acid carbon dots (CA CDs) synthesized via microwave pyrolysis were blended into the PTMPTA matrix. Nano-scale spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques for the first time revealed the transitional interface layers with different chemical structures between CA CDs and PTMPTA. Those transitional interface layers facilitate uniform stress distribution, enhance load transfer, prevent debonding caused by CDs agglomeration, reduce over-curing and thermal stress and improving surface cell adhesion and proliferation, together with CA CDs enhancing mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and processability of the resulting composite. Ultimately, composite incorporating 8 wt% CA CDs was determined to the highest mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and 3D printing accuracy, achieving a 3.5-fold increase in compressive Young's modulus and load-bearing capacity, a 1.5-fold increase in tensile Young's modulus, and a 2-fold cell surface proliferation compared to pure PTMPTA, and has successfully approached the target 3D printing accuracy. This work opens the door to the vast compositional space of different carbon dot/polymer composites targeting the demanding requirements of BTE and lays the foundation for future BTE materials. An overview of the production process of CA CDs/PTMPTA composites is presented, along with the role of the transitional interface layer formed between CA CDs and PTMPTA in enhancing composite properties. The composite containing 8 wt% CA CDs exhibited a 3.5-fold increase in compressive strength, a 1.5-fold improvement in tensile strength, and a 2-fold enhancement in cell proliferation compared to pure PTMPTA. Furthermore, the 8 wt% CA CDs/PTMPTA composite achieved superior 3D printing accuracy, whereas pure PTMPTA failed to reproduce the intended design structure. [Display omitted] • Novel citric acid carbon dots (CA CDs)/polymerized trimethylolpropane triacrylate (PTMPTA) composites were developed. • Transitional interfacial layers between CA CDs and PTMPTA are observed for the first time through nano-scale spectroscopy techniques. • Transitional interfaces are possible to cause the enhancement of composites. • The composite with 8 wt% CDs increases compressive ability 3.5-fold, tensile ability 1.5-fold, and cell growth 2-fold vs PTMPTA. • 8 wt% CDs/PTMPTA composite shows top print accuracy, compared to PTMPTA failed to match the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00219797
DOI:10.1016/j.jcis.2025.138553