https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2019.064
Published: Kem. Ind. 69 (5-6) (2020) 295–302
Paper reference number: KUI-64/2019
Paper type: Original scientific paper
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Preparation and Characterization of Biocomposite Based on Polylactide (PLA) and Bacterial Nanocellulose (BNC)

N. Mrkonjić, G. Martinko, E. Govorčin Bajsić, I. Slivac, V. Špada and T. Holjevac Grgurić

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) are promising materials in medicine due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. The aim of this work was to prepare and characterize the PLA/BNC biocomposite. Morphology, chemical composition, thermal properties, thermal stability, hydrophobicity and cell seeding, and growth of the PLA/BNC biocomposite were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle, and MTT method. DSC showed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of PLA decreased with the addition of BNC due to higher mobility of amorphous PLA phase. The degree of crystallinity increased due to nucleation effect of cellulose. With the addition of BNC, the thermal stability of biocomposite decreased. The PLA/BNC biocomposite exhibited a porous, fibrous structure. The cell seeding test showed the PLA/BNC biocomposite to be suitable for growth of human cells, and therefore, potentially applicable in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

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Keywords

polylactic acid, bacterial nanocellulose, biocomposites, biomedicine, tissue engineering