Polymer-matrix nanocomposites are becoming emerging group of modern biomaterials with enhanced mechanical characteristics and biological performance. Nanocomposites containing ceramic nanofillers embedded in a termoplast or termoset polymer matrix  are interesting group of materials where desired stiffness and biocompatibility can be achieved. However, many of these systems are  rather stiff materials of limited elongation and thus application. Therefore, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), as materials of high flexibility with wide range of possibilities to tailor their structure and properties represent interesting materials, especially for soft tissue applications. With the use of natural fatty acids, we produced an elastomeric polymer matrices, which were combined with nanometer-size ceramic particles (TiO₂) and showed various interesting mechanical properties [1,2]. In vivo tissue response to new elastomeric material containing nanocrystalline TiO₂ after 12 weeks implantation in rats was investigated. The superiority of fibroblasts, the little amount of histiocytes and lack of gigantiocytes reflects the development of nonprotracted–nonspecific inflammable reaction (a similar change comes in patients after grafting artificial silicone implants). Cell alterations were minimum with no evidences for contact necrosis being observed. Materials showed good biocompatibility, with no adverse biological effects. The lack of untoward effects of new nanostructured polymer/ceramic material on the adjacent tissues suggests good biocompatibility of material and indicated great potential for soft tissue engineering (current work is focused on application of these nanocomposites for myocardial tissue engineering).

References

 [1] El Fray M., Nanostructured Elastomeric Biomaterials for Soft Tissue Reconstruction, Publishing House of the Warsaw University of Technology, Warszawa 2003, 1-144

[2] El Fray M., Boccaccini A.R.: Materials Letters 59:2300-2304, 2005.

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2. Elastomeric nanocomposites with bioactive and nanocrystalline TiO₂
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