Fabrication and Characterization of Polysulfone-Dicalcium Silicate Composite Films

Abstract

Polysulfone (PSU) composite films filled with β-dicalcium silicate (-Ca2SiO4) particles are prepared by the solvent casting-evaporation method. The surface morphologies and mechanical properties of the films are determined. The bioactivity of the composite films is evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid (SBF) and the results show that the composites are bioactive as they induce the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) on the surface of the composite films. The measurement of the water contact angles suggests that the incorporation of -Ca2SiO4 particles into PSU matrix can improve the hydrophilicity of the composite. PSU composite films filled with modified -dicalcium silicate (-mCa2SiO4) particles are also prepared after -Ca2SiO4 particles are treated with dodecyl alcohol through surface esterification reactions. The infrared spectra of the -mCa2SiO4 particles before and after aging in water indicate that the surface modification is reversible. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images (micrographs) of both composites show that the dispersion of inorganic particles in the polymer matrix improves after surface modification. The PSU- -mCa2SiO4 composite is still bioactive and exhibits the same water contact angle after aging in water as compared to that of the PSU- -Ca2SiO4 composite. All these results suggest that the incorporation of -Ca2SiO4 particles is a useful method to prepare composites with improved bioactivity and hydrophilicity, and the surface modification of -Ca2SiO4 particles can improve the dispersion while retaining the bioactivity and hydrophilicity.