Bionanocomposites

From:
Sunil Kumar
Vikash Kumar
Vikram Singh
Akshay Padghan
Introduction:
First we have to know what is bionanotechnology, Bionanotechnology is a branch of
nanotechnology which uses biological starting materials, utilizes biological design or fabrication
principles or is applied in medicine.
Bionanocomposite is Bio-based performance and nanocomposite materials are polymeric
materials produced by or from plants, microorganisms or other bioprocesses and which are by
specific functionality based on micro/nanostructure of materials derived from self organization.
Living organisms produce natural nanocomposites that show an amazing hierarchical
arrangement of their organic and inorganic components from the nanoscale to the macroscopic
scale. Nacre in pearls and shells, ivory, bones, and enamel and dentine in teeth are fine examples
of bio nanocomposites found in Nature

Classification of bio-nanocomposite
1. particulate bio nanocomposite: particulate bio nanocomposite generally use iso-
dimensional particle as reinforcement. Owing to the low aspect ratio , the reinforcing
effect is moderate. Purpose of using to enhance composite resistance to flammability ,
decrease permeability or cost
2. Elongated particle bio-nanocomposite: Elongated particle bio nanocomposites use
elongated particles such as cellulose nanofibers and carbon nanotube as reinforcements.
This category yields nanocomposites with much better mechanicals because of higher
aspect ratio of reinforcements. Cellulose nanofibrils have been one of the most studied
organic reinforcement because of their remarkable mechanical properties. The affinity
between hydrophobic matrices and cellulose can be exploited, not only to enhance
mechanicals properties of composites, but depend on matrices used , also to produce
totally biodegradable materials .
3. Layered particle reinforced bio-nanocomposite : A Layered particle reinforced bio-
nanocomposite also known as layered polymer nanocomposite. It Can be classified into three
subcategories depending on the particles and matrix dispersion.
First one is Intercalated Bio-nanocomposites that is produce When polymer chains are
intercalated between sheets of layered nanoparticles . second is Exfoliated Bio-nanocomposites
are obtain when there is separation between of individual sheets .and third is Flocculated Bio-
nanocomposite that is also called as phase separated . there is no separation between the layers. It
is often named micro composite as the individual laminas do not separate .
Synthesis and assembly of Bionanocomposite:
Biomolecules (e.g. protein and DNA) + Inorganic nanomaterials (nanocrystals and nanowires)
 Useful Structures (Bio Nano composites).we just mimic the way nature makes materials.
3 fields exploited by bio Nano composites –
1. Chemical functionalities
2. Self-assembly of biomolecules controlling synthesis.
3. Nanomaterials.
Build-to-Order (BTO) is the capability to quickly build standard or mass-customized products
upon receipt of spontaneous orders without forecasts. Layer-by-Layer assembly allows to design
functional surfaces and surface-based nano-devices in a “build-to-order” fashion. It exceeds
simple self-organization under equilibrium conditions by making it possible to arrange many
different materials at will with nanoscale precision.
Advantage of assembly:
• Biochemical methods can be used to tailor surface chemistries of biomolecular templates.
• Self assembling of biomolecules into different patterns.
• Resulting bio nano materials may naturally have biological components for application in
both medicine and biochemistry.

Application of Bionanocomposites:
1. Artificial Bone implant:
This Involves nanostructured organic/inorganic composites useful in managing load bearing
bone grafts.
Materials developed include nanosized hydroxyapitite along with a random copolymer (Poly
Hydroxybutrate – co – Hydroxyvalerate) also referred to as PBHV
2. Carbon Nanotubes

A carbon nanotube is a tube-shaped material, made of carbon, having a diameter measuring on

the nanometer scale. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, or about 10,000 times smaller than
a human hair. CNT are unique because the bonding between the atoms is very strong and the
tubes can have extreme aspect ratios. A carbon nanotube can be as thin as a few nanometers yet
be as long as hundreds of microns. To put this into perspective, if your hair had the same aspect
ratio, a single strand would be over 40 meters long.
Carbon nanotubes have many structures, differing in length, thickness, and number of layers.
The characteristics of nanotubes can be different depending on how the graphene sheet has rolled
up to form the tube causing it to act either metallic or as a semiconductor. The graphite layer that
makes up the nanotube looks like rolled-up chicken wire with a continuous unbroken hexagonal
mesh and carbon molecules at the apexes of the hexagons.

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes:

It is important to note that growth of carbon nanotubes in general always requires the presence of
a catalyst. The catalyst is usually predeposited on the surface on which growth will take place.
The catalyst can also be suspended in a hot gas stream and nanotube formation will occur that
way as well, though the latter is a very inefficient way to do so. It also should be mentioned that
it is possible to inject both a hydrocarbon compound and a catalyst-bearing compound
simultaneously into a CVD system and get growth without prepatterning the substrate. An
example would be injecting toluene and ferrocene simultaneously, in which case the growth is
characterized as a two-source process and would require two injection mechanisms operating
simultaneously as well as a carrier gas injection assembly. The single source precursor that
comes with the SSP354 is much simpler, less expensive and more reliable to use.

Application of carbon nano tubes:

The carbon atoms of a single (graphene) sheet of graphite form a planar honeycomb lattice, in
which each atom is connected via a strong chemical bond to three neighboring atoms. Because of
these strong bonds, the basal-plane elastic modulus of graphite is one of the largest of any known
material. For this reason, CNTs are expected to be the ultimate high-strength fibers.  SWNTs are
stiffer than steel, and are very resistant to damage from physical forces.

CNTs represent a very small, high aspect ratio conductive additive for plastics of all types. Their
high aspect ratio means that a lower loading (concentration) of CNTs is needed compared to
other conductive additives to achieve the same electrical conductivity. 
 1. For Pseudo Test Tube (Nanoscale) – Internal cavity full of biological materials.
2. Measuring and recording reactions on nanoscale.
3. Able to study individual enzyme reactions and other chemical behavior.

3. BMF , synthesis and its application:

Buckminsterfullerene (or bucky-ball) is a spherical fullerene molecule with the formula C60. It

has a cage-like fused-ring structure (truncated icosahedron) which resembles a soccer ball
(football), made of twenty hexagons and twelve pentagons, with a carbon atom at each vertex of
each polygon and a bond along each polygon edge. Kroto, Curl and Smalley were awarded the
1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their roles in the discovery of buckminsterfullerene and the
related class of molecules, the fullerenes. 

Synthesis:

Thin films of carbon dust (soot) had been generated by an arc-process between two
graphite electrods in a helium atmosphere where the electrode material evaporates and condenses
forming soot in the quenching atmosphere. Among other features, the IR spectra of the soot
showed four discrete bands in close agreement to those proposed for C60. Advantage of using
Helium atmosphere is helium is Inert gas

Application of BMF:

. By this we can get different properties based on derivatives groups. Researchers at Rice
University have designed C60 and other fullerenes molecules with an atom of gadolinium inside
and with chemical appendages that make them water-soluble. In typical MRI contrast agents, the
metal gadolinium is lined to a non-fullerene molecule, which is normally excreted quickly from
the body. Fullerenes encapsulated with gadolinium might allow the contrast agent to remain in
the body longer, allowing doctors to perform slower studies. In one of the methods employed for
this purpose, ions are accelerated and implanted to the C60 cage. The first collision should
absorb and redistribute a good part of the kinetic energy to ensure that the ions have just enough
energy to open the cage and enter, without having sufficient kinetic energy left to escape.

Inhabit HIV:

Replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be suppressed by several antiviral
compounds, which are effective in preventing or delaying the onset of acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fullerenes (C60) and their derivatives have potential
antiviral activity, which has strong implications on the treatment of HIV-infection. The antiviral
activity of fullerene derivatives is based on several biological properties including their unique
molecular architecture and antioxidant activity. It has been shown that fullerenes derivatives
can inhibit and make complex with HIV protease (HIV-P) . Dendrofullerene 1 (Figure 1) has
shown the highest anti-protease activity . Derivative 2, the trans-2 isomer (Figure 1), is a strong
inhibitor of HIV-1 replication. The study suggests that relative position (trans-2) of substituents
on fullerenes and positive charges near to fullerenes cage provide an antiviral structural activity.

Fulleropyrrolidines with two ammonium groups have been found active against HIV-1 and HIV-
2. The relative positions of side chains on fullerenes have a strong influence on antiviral activity.
A series of fullerene derivatives have been synthesized to elucidate the structural parameters that
affect antiviral activity of fullerenes. Figure shows the derivatives, which are employed in
lymphocyte CEM cell cultures infected with HIV-1 or HIV-2. The results reveal that trans
fullerenes derivatives are more active than cis- counterparts whereas the equatorial one is totally
inactive.
Discussing bio nanocomposites further Nacre is very good example of bio nanocomposite due to
its packed and bricklike structure makes it one of the strongest and light weight material after
studying lot about the structure and synthesis scientists are trying to make a new material having
nacre like structure, strength and also is light weight, one group of scientists managed to mimic
the structure they used HAP suspension and freeze it directionally to get the nacre like structure
which also shows it's properties. Bio nanocomposites has two more addition properties than
nanocomposites those are biodegradability and biocompatibility. Considering the huge benefits
of recyclable environmentally friendly materials and their wide range of applications, many
research groups are trying to improve the properties of bioplastics, they found that bio
nanocomposites show better properties than nonreinforced bioplastics. The biodegradable
thermoplastic polyester PLA is combined with organically modified silicates which enhances the
bio catalytic activity of material and hence it degrades at faster rate, due to its biocompatibility
properties it can be used in regenerative medicine and drug delivery system also bio
nanocomposite obtained from HAP suspension can be used for bone implant as bone consists of
50% HAP by volume in and hence it is best suited material for bone implant it also allows
growth of tissues over it. Antimicrobial material is also being made using bio nanocomposites
which will be less hazardous than conventional antimicrobial agents.

Conclusion: bio nanocomposites has lot of application due to its biodegradable and
biocompatible properties. There is need to study this area further and explore more possibilities,
there are lot of applications of bio nanocomposites in various fields such that in biomedical
tissue engineering it can be used as bone replacement materials, heart valves and skin grafts if
more dedicated study is done In this field it will revolutionize the way medical treatment is done,
cellulose based bio nanocomposites which shows immense strength if properly studied can also
revolutionize textile and polymer industry.

References:

Bionanocomposites: A New Concept of Ecological, Bioinspired, and Functional Hybrid

Materials
Cellulosic Bionanocomposites: A Review of Preparation, Properties and Applications
Development of antimicrobial cotton fabric using bionanocomposites

Fullerene Derivatives Strongly Inhibit HIV-1 Replication by Affecting Virus

Maturation without Impairing Protease Activity