I + D / Nanotecnología aplicada a materiales textiles. Desarrollo de fibras, hilatura y tejeduría.
VOLFIL – RTD OF NEW MONOFILAMENTS BASED ON ADVANCED BIO-POLYMERS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE
Year: 2018
MOTIVATION
From the 1.339 plastic companies of the Valencian Community, 63 are focused on tape and monofilament extrusion. Is for this reason that VOLFIL projects aims on generating knowledge of new extrusion products focused on bio-polymers with new functionalities.
On one hand, skull injuries are the most frequent traumas found in urban trauma centres principally in elderly people, increasing the risk of stroke, which is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. According to the National Institute on Aging (US Department of Health and Human Services), the percentage of population older than 61 years (8.1% in 2014) will triplicate by 2050. Accordingly, large efforts are being focused on the research of novel bioabsorbable materials capable of fulfilling the requirements for bone fracture remodelling.
On the other hand, the incipient interest on optical advanced sensors development through the adaptation of Polymeric Optical Fibre (POF) is growing incessantly due to its vast possibilities of applications in different fields such as Bio medicine, Civil Engineering, Textile, among others.
OBJECTIVES
Once, the actual problem in the society has been detected, appears the decision of studying two different lines, both focused on the development of polymeric monofilaments with different functionalities.
From one side, continuous monofilament based on bio-polymers (bio-degradable and bio-absorbable) additivated with inorganic fillers with the aim of granting mechanical properties as well as bone regeneration properties to be used on 3D printed scaffolds for Tissue engineering applications.
From the other side, core/sheath bio-component monofilaments will be developed in circular shape and special geometries to be used as Polymeric Optical Fibre for advanced sensors development.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Osteogenic biomaterials are an alternative to traditional bone repair techniques, leading to faster healing of the involved joint. Bioabsorbable synthetic polymers such Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) are broadly used in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility. Loading the polymer matrix with nanoparticles such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and silica nano-spheres (SiO2) would be an interesting way to improve cell adhesion efficiency, bone regeneration and improve mechanical properties. HA an inexpensive biocompatible filler which guarantees a proper compatibility with human bone due to its osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties, facilitating bone regeneration in tissue engineering applications. Aiming to mimic body tissues, PCL, PLA, and PHB must display adequate mechanical stiffness to resist in vivo stresses and prevent new-tissue deformation. This requirement could be met by the appropriate addition of HA or SiO2 to the polymeric matrix. PCL, PLA and PHB have been already reinforced with HA increasing its tensile strength values of up to 38%, 150% and 40% respectively. The enhancement of mechanical properties is ascribed to a synergic effect produce by strong interactions between the polymer matrix and the filler surface. With the development of this project, the cell affinity and viability will be studied on the material surface, studying at the same time biocompatibility, biodegradability in a physiological environment and mechanical properties correlated to the additivation of the inorganic fillers.
The first POF was commercialized in 2005 under the name of ESKA® for Mitsubishi through a two steps process: monofilament extrusion of PMMA and a subsequent process of deep-coating to laminate the fibre with PVDF. The innovative point of this study lies on two different aspects: simplify the POF synthesis process on one single step by core/sheath extrusion process reducing cost production; and, due to the simplicity of the process, obtaining new geometries which drives to new possibilities that has been not explored yet.
Both research lines will generate new knowledge based on new products production applied to a very simple technology such as monofilament extrusion, avoiding the necessity of extra investment. This scope will enhance the productivity of the Valencian Community companies making them more competitive against the European companies.
This Project is supported by the Conselleria d’Economia Sostenible, Sectors Productius i Treball, through the IVACE (Instituto Valenciano de Competitividad Empresarial)
GRANT NUMBER: IMAMCI/2018/1
MORE INFORMATION IN THE NON-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES PLAN
Información adicional
- Año: 2018
- Estado: finalizado
- Entidad: IVACE
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