Thermal behavior and thermo-mechanical properties of biocompatible poly(lactic acid)/allyl-POSS nanohybrids.

Polysilsesquioxanes are extensively studied as durable and anti-adherent coatings for medical devices due to their superhydrophobic properties. However, their particular influence on the thermo-mechanical properties and biocompatibility of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based materials obtained by melt compounding is scarce. Herein, a facile and promising method to improve the performances of PLA for biomedical applications via the incorporation of different mass proportions of POSS nanoparticles with allyl-heptaisobutyl (AH-POSS) substituent through a melt-blending technique is proposed. The thermal, morpho-structural, mechanical properties at room (RT) and body temperatures (BT), and in vitro biocompatibility of the developed PLA/AH-POSS nanohybrids were investigated. AH-POSS nanoparticles were found to have simultaneous nucleation and plasticizing effects on the PLA nanohybrids, inducing enhanced thermal resistance and easy control of crystallinity while preserving PLA's biocompatibility. An interesting effect of AH-POSS on the mechanical properties of PLA at body temperature was observed. These results indicate the considerable potential of the PLA/AH-POSS nanohybrids obtained by melt compounding in the fabrication of biomedical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]