Stimuli-responsive nanocomposite materials which change their mechanical properties in response to external stimuli have attracted significant interest for use in broad spectrum of biomedical fields. Among the many possible applications of such smart materials, is the use of chemically-responsive nanocomposites comprising of polymer matrices and cellulose nanowhiskers (NWs) as mechanically-adaptive substrates for intracortical microelectrodes. NWs have been used to reinforce numerous polymer matrices in nanocomposites due to their low cost, availability, bio-availability, nanoscale dimensions, unique morphology and spectacular mechanical properties. Herein, we describe the fabrication of a new generation of stimuli-responsive, mechanically-adaptive materials by facile solution-casting of polymer matrix reinforced with NWs, which significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the matrix. Also, these materials showed modest swelling and reversible modulus reduction upon immersion in physiological conditions. As will be shown, these smart materials exhibit properties which are useful for the development of a new generation of mechanically-adaptive cortical implants.

Mechanically-adaptive bionanocomposites for biomedical applications

244th National Meeting (2012)

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