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By: Haydar U. Zaman.
Assiatant Professor, Department of Physics, National University of Bangladesh and Institute of Radiation and Polymer Technology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box-3787, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) are known for being an effective method to impart materials with exceptional properties that cannot be achieved by the individual components on their own. Utilizing the interfaces between the two phases of nanoscale compounds with high specific surface areas is advantageous for creating composites that incorporate nanofillers. The primary difficulty with nanocomposites lies in managing the interfacial interactions between the two phases. Polymer nanocomposites have gained significant research attention in recent years because of their promising potential in various electric, magnetic, optical, and biological applications. Over conventional materials, polymeric nanocomposites provide several advantages, such as light weighting, flexibility, processing simplicity, and low cost of the finished product. Biomedical applications have become a top study area among the disciplines due to the significance of medical technology, which has raised the criteria for biomedical materials. Demand for new materials with specific properties is high. Biomedical polymer-silicate nanocomposites hold great potential for advancing biomedical applications, including diagnostic and therapeutic devices, tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and various biotechnologies inspired by biology but with limited direct ties to biomedicine. A deep understanding of polymer-nanoparticle interactions is essential to regulate the structure-property relationships of materials, ensuring they function effectively within the chemical, physical, and biological limitations imposed by their intended applications. This review compiles the latest published strategies for designing and developing polymer-silicate nanocomposites, including clay-based silicate nanoparticles and bioactive glass nanoparticles, for various biological applications. Emerging application areas are being explored, and recent advancements in biotechnological and biomedical nanocomposites are highlighted.
Keywords: Nanocomposites, polymer, silicates, clay, biopolymer, mechanical properties, miomedical applications
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Citation:
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