Nanocomposites of poly(ε-caprolactone) with nanocarbon and inorganic nanoparticles: a versatile platform for industrial applications

ABSTRACT

Poly(ε-caprolactone), a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, has been utilised in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biomedical devices. Poly(ε-caprolactone) has been researched for optimum crystallinity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, molecular weight, and crystallisation and melting temperature. Essential features of poly(ε-caprolactone) were enhanced using nanofillers counting carbon nanotube, graphene, graphene oxide, halloysite nanotube, silica nanoparticle, nanoclay, and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. Incorporation of nanoparticles allows modification of chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of nanocomposite. The article presents a comprehensive review on poly(ε-caprolactone)-based nanocomposite, correlation between structure and properties, application, and future challenges. Poly(ε-caprolactone)-based nanocomposite has been explored for electromagnetic interference shielding, shape memory, sensor, and tissue engineering.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Poly(ε-caprolactone)
• graphene
• halloysite
• electromagnetic
• shape memory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ayesha Kausar

Ayesha Kausar has experience of working at National Centre for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. She obtained her PhD from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad/KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology), Graduate School of EEWS, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Her research interests include: synthesis, characterization and structure-property relationships of new polymeric materials; synthesis of nanomaterials including organic–inorganic nanocomposites/hybrid materials; polymeric blends via incorporating nanoparticles into thin polymer films; exploring practical and potential prospects of the novel synthesized materials (new polymers and nanomaterials) counting morphological, mechanical, thermal, electrical, conducting, etc.; flame retardant materials; proton conducting fuel cell membranes; nanocomposites for polymer Li-ion battery electrodes; composites based on electrospun nanofibers; production of various polymeric nanoparticles and their composites for solar cells; polymer/carbon nanotube/nanoparticle composites for water treatment; potential of polymer/graphite nanocomposites; polymer/graphene hybrids; polymer/fullerene nanomaterials; fabrication of epoxy-based nanocomposite for various applications; radar absorbing materials; aerospace relevance, and other technical relevances.