Conductive polymer based nanocomposite membranes for biomedical applications

The aim of this work was to examine composite membranes obtained by means of phase inversion from a synthetic stable polymer – polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). The piezoelectric polymer was modified with 0.5-1wt% addition of commercial carbon fillers: graphite oxide (GO, 1wt%), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT, 1wt%) and functionalized nanotubes (CNT-COOH, 0.5wt%). The membranes were obtained by solidification of nanocomposite solutions in coagulation bath (CH3OH). The obtained series of materials differed in surface porosity (P), electric conductivity (σ) and surface free energy (SFE). It was proved that presence of carbon nanoadditive influenced microstructure of the membranes: the mean size of pores in the membrane rose in the following order: GO→CNT→CNT-COOH. The very same system depicted the influence of the filler on the membrane structure: the increase in membrane crystallinity (λ) and the β phase share (FT Raman). From all the examined nanocomposite systems, the PVDF modified with 0.5wt% CNT-COOH displayed the most advantageous electric properties. These nanocomposite membrane (PVDF/CNT-COOH) could be used as a low-voltage electrodes in biomedical application. Yet, taking into account the other physicochemical, mechanical and structural properties, the membranes modified with 1wt% CNT and 1wt% GO were also interesting.

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Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę (zadania 2017).