Surface Properties of Polymeric Composites with Silver Nanoparticles.

The aim of this study was to investigate the surface properties of polymeric composites and the osteoblastic cell behaviour set in direct contact with the biomaterials tested. The surface properties were evaluated before and after 6-month incubation in an in vitro environment. The composite materials were prepared by means of extrusion and injection moulding. Three commercially available thermoplastic polymers (ABS (poly)acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) were used as composite matrices. Antibacterial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were added as a modifying phase. Surface properties of the materials tested, such as: wettability, roughness and microstructure, were determined. Furthermore the morphology of Saos-2 human osteoblastic cells in direct contact with the composite materials was assessed after the 7-day culture. The addition of silver nanoparticles caused minor changes in the wettability and roughness values. As light modification, the silver nanoparticles influenced the microstructure. The osteoblasts displayed the proper morphology and they evenly settled on the surface of the pure polymer and composite materials, which indicated the material cytocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]