Polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites: a review from preparation to processing

This review aims at reporting on very recent developments in syntheses, properties and (future) applications of polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. This new type of materials, based on smectite clays usually rendered hydrophobic through ionic exchange of the sodium interlayer cation with an onium cation, may be prepared via various synthetic routes comprising exfoliation adsorption, in situ intercalative polymerization and melt intercalation. The whole range of polymer matrices is covered, i.e. thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers. Two types of structure may be obtained, namely intercalated nanocomposites where the polymer chains are sandwiched in between silicate layers and exfoliated nanocomposites where the separated, individual silicate layers are more or less uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. This new family of materials exhibits enhanced properties at very low filler level, usually inferior to 5 wt.%, such as increased Young’s modulus and storage modulus, increase in thermal stability and gas barrier properties and good flame retardancy.

Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites: preparation, properties and uses of a new class of materials

https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/1018032.pdf

Polymer nanotechnology: Nanocomposites

Molecular self-assembly is the spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates joined by noncovalent bonds. Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in biological systems and underlies the formation of a wide variety of complex biological structures. Understanding self-assembly and the associated noncovalent interactions that connect complementary interacting molecular surfaces in biological aggregates is a central concern in structural biochemistry. Self-assembly is also emerging as a new strategy in chemical synthesis, with the potential of generating nonbiological structures with dimensions of 1 to 10(2) nanometers (with molecular weights of 10(4) to 10(10) daltons). Structures in the upper part of this range of sizes are presently inaccessible through chemical synthesis, and the ability to prepare them would open a route to structures comparable in size (and perhaps complementary in function) to those that can be prepared by microlithography and other techniques of microfabrication.

Molecular self-assembly and nanochemistry: A chemical strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures

http://dns2.asia.edu.tw/~ysho/YSHO-English/1000%20WC/PDF/App%20Cla%20Sci15,%2011.pdf

Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites: an overview

Surface chemistry and geometry have a strong influence on adhesion and proliferation of various cell types, including human embryonic stem cells (ES). Visceral endoderm like cells (END-2) is an important cell line which induces ES cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. In this study, we have investigated the effect of surface chemistry and geometry on the END-2 cell adhesion and proliferation on gold surface.

A Method for the Real‐Time Observation of Endodermal Cell Behavior on Micropatterned Surfaces

Focus on Materials in Biomaterials Science

Macromol. Rapid Commun. 11/2008

Acetabular Cup with a Trabecular Coating: A Novel Approach to a Monolithic Cup Made of One High‐Strength Ceramic Material

Cellular microenvironments play a crucial role in cell behavior. In addition to the biochemical cues present in the microenvironments, biophysical and biomechanical properties on surfaces have an impact on cellular functionality and eventually cellular fate. Effects of surface topography on cell behavior are being studied extensively in the literature. However, these studies often try to replicate topographical features of tissue surfaces by using techniques such as chemical etching, photolithography, and electrospinning, which may result in the loss of crucial micro- and nano- features on the tissue surfaces such as bone. This study investigates the topographical effects of bone surface by transferring its surface features onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes using soft lithography from a bovine femur. Our results have shown that major features on bone surfaces were successfully transferred onto PDMS using soft lithography. Osteoblast proliferation and calcification of bone matrix have significantly increased along with osteoblast-specific differentiation and maturation markers such as osteocalcin (OSC), osterix (OSX), collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) on bone surface mimicked (BSM) PDMS membranes in addition to a unidirectional alignment of osteoblast cells compared to plain PDMS surfaces. This presented bone surface mimicking method can provide a versatile native-like platform for further investigation of intracellular pathways regarding osteoblast growth and differentiation. 

Klaus D. Jandt

Papers

A Method for the Real‐Time Observation of Endodermal Cell Behavior on Micropatterned Surfaces

Focus on Materials in Biomaterials Science

Macromol. Rapid Commun. 11/2008

Acetabular Cup with a Trabecular Coating: A Novel Approach to a Monolithic Cup Made of One High‐Strength Ceramic Material

Bone surface mimicked PDMS membranes stimulate osteoblasts and calcification of bone matrix.