Study on properties and biocompatibility of poly (butylene succinate) and sodium alginate biodegradable composites for biomedical applications

Abstract Providing better biodegradable materials for medical applications has always been an important premise for improving the therapeutic effect of clinical diseases. The Poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and Sodium alginate (SA) composites were prepared using melt blending technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersion spectrum (SEM-EDS), mechanical properties, water contact angle, thermal properties, and in vitro degradation and cytotoxicity tests were determined to evaluate the properties of the composites with a varied SA proportion of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The FTIR and SEM-EDS results confirmed the successful preparation and microphase distribution of the composites. With the increasing in SA loading, the distribution of the filler became unevenly gradually from evenly, the Young’s modulus increased first and then decreased, the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased gradually, the hydrophilicity, in vitro biodegradability increased, thermostability decreased, and the Tm, Tg, and crystallinity of the composites did not change significantly. The composite with 10% SA loading has uniform dispersion of the filler, the highest Young’s modulus (1091.21 MPa), mild hydrophilicity ( θ = 88.40°), an adequate thermal processing temperature range (110 °C–200 °C), and has good biodegradability and biocompatibility with no significant deleterious impact on the cell membrane, lysosomal membrane, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cytoskeleton, or intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. It can be used as a biodegradable material for medical applications such as suture anchors.