We evaluated the biological, mechanical, and surface properties of polymer nanocomposites\nmanufactured via plastics processing, extrusion, and injection moulding. The aim of this study was to\nidentify the interaction of fibroblasts and osteoblasts with materials intended for middle ear implants.\nWe examined if silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may change the mechanical parameters of the polymer\nnanocomposites. In our study, the biostable polymer of thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene\n(ABS) copolymer was used. Silver nanoparticles were applied as a modifier. We discuss surface\nparameters of the materials, including wettability and roughness, and evaluated the microstructure.\nThe mechanical parameters, such as the Youngâ??s modulus and tensile strength, were measured.\nCytotoxicity tests were conducted on two cell lines: Hs680.Tr human fibroblasts and Saos-2 human\nosteoblasts. Cell viability, proliferation, and morphology in direct contact with nanocomposites were\ntested. Based on the results, the incorporated modifier was found to affect neither the number of\nosteoblasts nor the fibroblast cells. However, the addition of AgNPs had a relatively small effect\non the cytotoxicity of the materials. A slight increase in the cytotoxicity of the test materials was\nobserved with respect to the control, with the cytotoxicity of the materials tending to decrease\nafter seven days for osteoblast cells, whereas it remained steady for fibroblasts. Based on optical\nmicroscope observation, the shape and morphology of the adhered cells were evaluated. After\nseven days of culture, fibroblasts and osteoblasts were properly shaped and evenly settled on the\nsurface of both the pure polymer and the silver nanoparticle-modified composite. Water droplet tests\ndemonstrated increased hydrophilicity when adding the AgNPs to ABS matrices, whereas roughness\ntests did not show changes in the surface topography of the investigated samples. The 0.5% by weight\nincorporation of AgNPs into ABS matrices did not influence the mechanical properties.
Loading....