Nanocomposites of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Functionalized-Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Conjugated With Glucose Oxidase for Potential Application as Scaffolds in Skin Wound Healing

Abstract

A novel nanocomposite scaffold based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were synthesized and characterized regarding to morphological, physical, and mechanical properties and also the preliminary biocompatibility was assessed by MTT assay. Additionally, the concept of developing hybrid systems was tested by bioconjugating functionalized MWNT to glucose oxidase and dispersed in the PVA matrix. The nanocomposites have presented mechanical properties, degree of swelling, and cytocompatibility comparable to the skin tissues. Moreover, the bionanocomposite with enzyme showed bioactivity toward injecting glucose with simultaneous antimicrobial behavior against bacterial pathogens due to the generation hydrogen peroxide.

Keywords:

• Carbon nanotube
• composite
• nanocomposite
• nanomaterial
• poly(vinyl alcohol)

Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to CNPq, CAPES, and FAPEMIG for the financial support to the project. The authors would like to express their special gratitude to Prof. Edel F. Barbosa-Stancioli (ICB-UFMG-Brazil) for the MTT cytotoxicity assays, the staff from the Microscopy Center/UFMG for the TEM analysis, and Prof. Dagoberto Santos/Patricia Trigueiro for the SEM analysis.