Development of New Bio-Composite of PEO/Silk Fibroin Blends Loaded with Piezoelectric Material

Abstract

New bio-composite nanofibers composed of polyethylene oxide (PEO)/silk fibroin (SF)/barium titanate (BaTiO₃) are introduced in this study. The SF solution was added to the PEO solution to form a PEO/SF blend with different weight percentages (5, 10, 15, 20 wt.%). The PEO/15 wt.% SF blend was selected to continue the experimental plan based on the optimum nanofiber morphology. Different wt.% of BaTiO₃ particles (0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1 wt.%) were added to the PEO/15 wt.% SF blend solution, and the suspensions obtained were introduced to an electrospinning device. The fabricated tissue was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The zeta potential of the solution and the piezoelectric performance of the fabricated tissue were characterized. A newly designed pizoTester was used to investigate piezoelectric properties. The results showed that a well-organized, smooth PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃ nanofiber composite with low bead contents was obtained. Improved properties and electrical coupling were achieved in the newly introduced material. Electrospun PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃ mats increased the output voltage (1150 mV) compared to pristine PEO and PEO/SF composite fibers (410 and 290 mV, respectively) upon applying 20 N force at 5 Hz frequency. The observed enhancement in piezoelectric properties suggests that the prepared composite could be a promising material in cardiac tissue engineering (CTE).

Keywords: CTE; PEO/silk; biocomposites; electrospinning; piezoelectric material.

Figure 1

(a) schematic diagram of the electrospinning approaches, (b) NanoSpinner device.

Figure 2

Picture of assembled setup during the examination of the piezoelectric test: (1) a TQ SM1090 fatigue test machine, (2) a camshaft, (3) vertical tapping shaft, (4) oscilloscope, (5) container, (6) force adjustable arm, (7) load cell, (8) frequency and force monitoring.

Figure 3

Zeta−potential distribution and dielectric displacement data for PEO pure, PEO/SF, and SF/PEO/BaTiO₃.

Figure 4

SEM micrograph of the pristine PEO nanofibers at different magnifications.

Figure 5

PEO/SF nanofibers with different SF wt.%: (a) 5 wt.%, (b) 10 wt.%, (c) 15 wt.%, and (d) 20 wt.%.

Figure 6

PEO/15 wt.% SF/BaTiO₃ with different BaTiO₃ content: (a) 0.2 wt.%, (b) 0.4 wt.%, (c) 0.8 wt.%, and (d) 1 wt.%.

Figure 7

(a) FTIR of pristine PEO, PEO/15 wt.% SF, and PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃, (b) inset in the range of 500 to 2500 cm⁻¹ for the PEO/15 wt.% SF, (c) FTIR for pure SF.

Figure 8

XRD of pristine PEO, PEO/15 wt.% SF, and PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃.

Figure 9

(a) Raman spectroscopy of pristine PEO, PEO/15 wt.% SF, and PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃, (b) inset in the range of 1000 to 2000 cm⁻¹ for the PEO/15 wt.% SF.

Figure 10

Correlation between the frequency and the output voltage for PEO, PEO/15 wt.% SF, and PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃ at an applied force of 5 N.

Figure 11

The generated harmonics noise voltage produced by the piezoelectric materials at a different frequency and 5 N applied force: (a) 5 Hz, (b) 10 Hz, (c) 15 Hz, and (d) 20 Hz for PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃ nanofiber mat.

Figure 12

Correlation between the force and the output voltage for PEO, PEO/15 wt.% SF, and PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃ at a constant frequency of 5 Hz.

Figure 13

The generated harmonics noise voltage produced by the piezoelectric materials at 5 Hz frequency and different applied forces: (a) 5 N, (b) 10 N, (c) 15 N, and (d) 20 N for PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO₃ nanofibers mat.