A nanostructured carbon-reinforced polyisobutylene-based thermoplastic elastomer.

This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of a polyisobutylene (PIB)-based nanostructured carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer. This thermoplastic elastomer is based on a self-assembling block copolymer having a branched PIB core carrying -OH functional groups at each branch point, flanked by blocks of poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene). The block copolymer has thermolabile physical crosslinks and can be processed as a plastic, yet retains its rubbery properties at room temperature. The carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer had more than twice the tensile strength of the neat polymer, exceeding the strength of medical grade silicone rubber, while remaining significantly softer. The carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer displayed a high T(g) of 126 degrees C, rendering the material steam-sterilizable. The carbon also acted as a free radical trap, increasing the onset temperature of thermal decomposition in the neat polymer from 256.6 degrees C to 327.7 degrees C. The carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer had the lowest water contact angle at 82 degrees and surface nano-topography. After 180 days of implantation into rabbit soft tissues, the carbon-reinforced thermoplastic elastomer had the thinnest tissue capsule around the microdumbbell specimens, with no eosinophiles present. The material also showed excellent integration into bones. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Judit E Puskas, Elizabeth A Foreman-Orlowski, Goy Teck Lim, Sara E Porosky, Michelle M Evancho-Chapman, Steven P Schmidt, Mirosława El Fray, Marta Piatek, Piotr Prowans, Krystal Lovejoy. A nanostructured carbon-reinforced polyisobutylene-based thermoplastic elastomer. Biomaterials. 2010 Mar;31(9):2477-88

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PMID: 20034664

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