Shape Memory Polymer-Based Nanocomposites Magnetically Enhanced with Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

This work aimed to investigate the effect of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MNP), which are known to have a wide range of applications in recent years, on nanocomposite films prepared with shape memory polymers. Herein, PLA-PEG blend nanocomposite films were prepared by solution casting method using MNP at different ratios. PLA-PEG Blend/MNP nanocomposite films were characterized with Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) to determine the -C=O stretching of PLA and Fe-O stretching signals of Fe3O4. The thermal stability, morphology, and magnetic behavior were studied by comparing the results among PLA-PEG blend, PLA-PEG blend/MNP nanocomposite with thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The effect of MNP on the shape memory properties of PLA/PEG blend was investigated. Moreover, the comparison of antimicrobial activity between PLA/PEG blend and PLA-PEG blend/MNP nanocomposite films were conducted by the disk diffusion method. The results showed that MNP increased the thermal stability of the PLA/PEG blend and the nanocomposites inhibited the growth of C.albicans microorganism.

Automated summary

This research investigated the impact of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles on nanocomposite films made of shape memory polymers. PLA-PEG blend nanocomposite films were prepared with different ratios of MNP. The films were studied using ATR-IR, TGA, DSC, SEM, and VSM to analyze their thermal stability, morphology, magnetic behavior, and shape memory properties. The antimicrobial activity of the films was also compared. The results showed that MNP increased thermal stability and inhibited microbial growth.