Calcium silicate nanowires - An effective alternative for improving mechanical properties of chitosan-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer nanocomposites.

Nanowires of calcium silicate were successfully synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation process and incorporated into chitosan and hydroxyetheyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer matrix by solution blending for efficacious preparation of biodegradable nanocomposites. Remarkable improvement in mechanical properties of the nanocomposites was noticed after micro-tensile analysis. Enlarged surface area and higher aspect ratio of CaSiO3 nanowires were the key factors responsible for such improvement. This was supported by EDS and XRD analysis in terms of proper distribution of nanofiller through the copolymer matrix and corresponding rise in percentage crystallanity respectively. Contact angle and biodegradation studies further clarified that nano-CaSiO3 did not affect the hydrophilicity and general degradation route of chitosan copolymer respectively. This renders the nano-CaSiO3 as an ideal substitute for preparing high performance nanocomposites to be applicable for biomedical applications.