Development and Properties of Graphene/Polymer Nanocomposites for Biomedical Load-bearing Applications

Description

Thermally reduced graphene (TRG) with exceptional high mechanical strength and modulus as well as good biocompatibility will be used as nanofillers to enhance mechanical strength, elastic modulus, bioactivity and biocompatibility of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymers. Both TRG/HDPE and TRG/HDPE nanocomposite systems will be manufactured by melt-blending and injection molding processes. The mechanical properties, bioactivity and biocompatibility of those nanocomposites will be assessed using tensile and impact measurements, osteoblast cell cultivation and MTT cell viability tests. The purpose is to develop and fabricate polymer nanocomposites with high mechanical strength and excellent biocompatibility for biomedical engineering applications. It is anticipated that the TRG/HDPE and TRG/PEEK composites can be used as load-bearing implants for replacing human defective bones in orthopedics.