Functionalization of halloysite nanotube with chitosan reinforced poly (vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites for potential biomedical applications.

The present study reports the preparation of novel surface functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with chitosan incorporated Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposite films with desirable properties. Surface functionalization of HNTs with Chitosan through hydrogen bonding via acylation with succinic anhydride; supramolecular interaction was confirmed by spectroscopic and morphological analysis. The functionalized HNTs incorporated in the PVA matrix were subjected to FTIR studies, Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal, mechanical properties, Water Contact Angle, swelling ratio analysis and in-vitro biocompatibility studies. Results of the morphological studies showed that functionalized HNTs were uniformly dispersed and showed improved surface roughness with increasing weight percent of functionalized HNTs in the films. The studies revealed significant enhancement in the mechanical and thermal properties compared with the pristine PVA film. The hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of films were analysed with WCA and results were compared with swelling studies. Furthermore, in vitro enzymatic degradation and cellular behaviour studies performed on mouse fibroblast (NIH3T3) cells and results confirmed enhanced proliferative and adhesion activity of nanocomposite films compared to that of pristine PVA films. In addition, hemocompatibility studies carried out using human erythrocytes revealed the biocompatible and hemocompatible of nanocomposite films indicating their greater potential for tissue engineering.