Spectral analysis combined with nonlinear optical measurement of laser printed biopolymer composites comprising chitosan/SWCNT

Anal Biochem. 2020 Jun 1:598:113710. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113710. Epub 2020 Apr 5.

Abstract

Biopolymer composites based on two types of chitosan (chitosan succinate and low-molecular weight chitosan) with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were created by laser printing. SWCNT have good dispersibility in chitosan solutions and therefore, can form relatively homogeneous films that was shown in scanning electron microscopy images. For the studies film composites were formed under the action of laser radiation on aqueous dispersion media. Study of the nonlinear optical process during the interaction of laser radiation with a disperse media has shown that low-molecular chitosan has a large nonlinear absorption coefficient of 17 cm/GW, while the addition of SWCNT lead to a significant increase up to 902 cm/GW. The threshold intensity for these samples was 5.5 MW/cm2 with nanotubes. If intensity exceeds the threshold value, nonlinear effects occur, which, in turn, lead to the transformation of a liquid into a solid phase. Characterization of films by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy indicated arising molecular interactions between chitosan and SWCNT detected as a small frequency shift and a change in the shape of radial breathing mode (RBM). The results indicate the possibility using aqueous dispersion media based on chitosan and SWCNT to create three-dimensional films and scaffolds for tissue engineering by laser printing.

Keywords: Carbon nanotubes; Chitosan; Nonlinear optical properties; Spectroscopy; Tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biopolymers / chemistry*
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Lasers*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional*
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared

Substances

  • Biopolymers
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Chitosan