Aliaa, Nik Syahirah;
(2024)
Graphene-P(3HB-co-4HB)-bioactive glass composite for biomedical engineering applications.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
The ultimate goal for an ideal wound dressing is to create a healing environment that provides pain relief, and protection against injuries and infections, maintains moisture, removes debris, and accelerates wound closure and repair. Other existing alternatives, e.g., gauze, are frequently constrained by their characteristics and functionalities when it comes to assisting wound management and healing. This limitation makes them less practical as solutions for treating wounds, including chronic, non-healing ones. Therefore, there is a pressing need for innovative formulations capable of providing enhanced healing performance to meet the growing demand for efficient, cost-effective, and, most importantly, environmentally sustainable alternatives. This study delves into the synthesis of novel formulation based on microbial- derived copolymer namely Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB-co-4HB) which is recognised for its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and inherent sustainability. Nonetheless, the copolymer's restricted hydrophobic properties hindered its full potential, which the thesis will lead through the process of developing an improved biocomposite aimed at addressing this limitation. The research explores the impact of surface modification by incorporating several ratios of sol-gel-derived bioactive glass and graphene particles (via liquid-phase exfoliation). The investigation spans chemical, mechanical, physical and biological assessments of the combined biocomposites to optimise the formulation that best promotes cell adhesion and consequently facilitates enhanced wound healing. The findings revealed optimised individual concentrations of bioactive glass and graphene at 1 w/w% and 0.01 w/w% respectively, balancing between physical, mechanical, chemical and biological properties. The formulation exhibits promising mechanical properties with good tensile strength and flexibility, making it a robust option for wound care. It also demonstrates improved wettability and accelerated degradation. Moreover, it is biocompatible and supports cell viability, with a notable ability to promote wound healing, including the formation of blood vessels. Overall, the biocomposite shows great promise as an ideal wound dressing material due to its favourable characteristics and positive impact on wound healing kinetics.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Graphene-P(3HB-co-4HB)-bioactive glass composite for biomedical engineering applications |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10190870 |
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