Characterization and biocompatibility of chestnut shell fiber–based composites with polyester |
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| Authors: | Chin‐San Wu Yi‐Chiang Hsu Hsin‐Tzu Liao Fu‐San Yen Chen‐Yu Wang Chia‐Tsc Hsu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Kao Yuan University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China;2. Graduate Institute of Medical Science, College of Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China;3. Innovative Research Center of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China;4. Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China |
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| Abstract: | The structural, mechanical, biocompatibility, and biodegradability properties of composite materials formed of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and natural fiber (chestnut shell fiber; CSF) were evaluated. Maleic anhydride‐grafted poly(butylene succinate) (PBS‐g‐MA) and treated (crosslinked) CSF (TCSF) were used to improve the mechanical properties of PBS/CSF composites. The results show that PBS‐g‐MA/TCSF composites have superior mechanical properties compared with both pure PBS and PBS/CSF composites, which is attributed to better compatibility between the polymer and TCSF. Normal human foreskin fibroblasts (FBs) were seeded onto these two series of composites to characterize the biocompatibility. FB proliferation, collagen production, and cytotoxicity assays on the PBS/CSF series of composites exhibited superior results compared with those on the PBS‐g‐MA/TCSF composites. PBS‐g‐MA/TCSF was found to be more water resistant than PBS/CSF, and the weight loss of both the composites buried in soil compost indicated that both were biodegradable, especially at high levels of CSF substitution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40730. |
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| Keywords: | biocompatibility biodegradable blends fibers polyesters |
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