Synthesis and characterization of hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites for biomedical applications

This study presents preliminary findings on the performance of the stimuli-responsive PLA/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites under the magnetic stimulus with varying concentrations of hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles. The effect of varying nanoparticle concentrations on the structural and thermal properties was examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Subsequently, the magnetic field with various intensities was generated using a vibrating sample magnetometer in a controlled environment. The resulting deformation rate of the nanocomposites was observed in response to changing magnetic fields. The results revealed that the PLA/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites could be potential materials for biomedical applications, i.e., cardiovascular stents, which can provide the desired stimulus to treat post-stenting complications without the need for secondary surgical procedures. In future studies, the synthesized PLA/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites will be adopted for 3D printing (3DP) processes to develop patient-specific cardiovascular stents and to evaluate their biomechanical performance.