In-vitro and antibacterial activities of novel POT/TiO2/PCL composites for tissue engineering and biomedical applications

The organic/Inorganic nanocomposite poly-ortho-toluidine-TiO2 was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization in the presence of TiO2 using ammonium peroxo-disulfate as an oxidizing agent. The POT + TiO2/PCL composite film scaffolds were fabricated by solvent casting technique. The prepared POT + TiO2/PCL composite film was characterized through X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR)spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopic studies (FESEM) with EDS techniques.The conductivity measurement of the samples was carried out at room temperature by standard two probe technique using KEITHLEY electrometer. The surface roughness of composites was measured using a 3D laser profilometry-Zeta Optical-Profilometer. The diffraction pattern of POT + TiO2/PCL composite film suggests the semicrystalline nature of the composites.FT-IR spectra confirms the formation of POT + TiO2/PCL composite film. The inclusion of POT + TiO2 component confirmed by FT-IR spectra also by the color change observed while blending PCL with POT + TiO2. The FE-SEM images of POT + TiO2 composites possesses the granular and spherical morphology also the TiO2 nanoparticle seems to be well dispersed in POT. The EDX spectra confirms the presence of all elements in the POT + TiO2/PCL composites.The POT + TiO2 nanocomposites have conductivity in the semiconducting range 0.13 x 10(-7)(S/Cm). Similarly, the DC conductivity of the POT + TiO2/PCL film becomes semiconducting range 0.04 x 10(-8) (S/Cm). Surface roughness provides a great influence on the viability of different cells. The activity of Vero cells on both the composites was detected through MTT technique to determine the toxicity of the samples. In vitro antibacterial activities of POT + TiO2 and POT + TiO2/PCL composite scaffold were evaluated on gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria using well diffusion technique.POT + TiO2/PCL composite scaffold with improved surface roughness, cell viability and antibacterial activity. This work provides an economic and convenient method which eliminates the insolubility and nondegradability of conducting polymers and to prepare POT + TiO2/PCL-based composites for tissue engineering applications