TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tritschler, Ulrich
A1  - Zlotnikov, Igor
A1  - Fratzl, Peter
A1  - Schlaad, Helmut
A1  - Gruener, Simon
A1  - Coelfen, Helmut
T1  - Gas barrier properties of bio-inspired Laponite-LC polymer hybrid films
JF  - PLoS one
N2  - Bio-inspired Laponite (clay)-liquid crystal (LC) polymer composite materials with high clay fractions (>80%) and a high level of orientation of the clay platelets, i.e. with structural features similar to the ones found in natural nacre, have been shown to exhibit a promising behavior in the context of reduced oxygen transmission. Key characteristics of these bio-inspired composite materials are their high inorganic content, high level of exfoliation and orientation of the clay platelets, and the use of a LC polymer forming the organic matrix in between the Laponite particles. Each single feature may be beneficial to increase the materials gas barrier property rendering this composite a promising system with advantageous barrier capacities. In this detailed study, Laponite/LC polymer composite coatings with different clay loadings were investigated regarding their oxygen transmission rate. The obtained gas barrier performance was linked to the quality, respective Laponite content and the underlying composite micro-and nanostructure of the coatings. Most efficient oxygen barrier properties were observed for composite coatings with 83% Laponite loading that exhibit a structure similar to sheet-like nacre. Further on, advantageous mechanical properties of these Laponite/LC polymer composites reported previously give rise to a multifunctional composite system.
KW  - gas permeation
KW  - liquid crystal
KW  - Laponite
KW  - liquid crystal polymer
KW  - bio-inspired
KW  - organic-inorganic composite material
KW  - self-organization
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/11/3/035005
SN  - 1748-3182
SN  - 1748-3190
VL  - 11
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hardy, John G.
A1  - Torres-Rendon, Jose Guillermo
A1  - Leal-Egana, Aldo
A1  - Walther, Andreas
A1  - Schlaad, Helmut
A1  - Coelfen, Helmut
A1  - Scheibel, Thomas R.
T1  - Biomineralization of Engineered Spider Silk Protein-Based Composite Materials for Bone Tissue Engineering
JF  - Materials
N2  - Materials based on biodegradable polyesters, such as poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) or poly(butylene terephthalate-co-poly(alkylene glycol) terephthalate) (PBTAT), have potential application as pro-regenerative scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Herein, the preparation of films composed of PBT or PBTAT and an engineered spider silk protein, (eADF4(C16)), that displays multiple carboxylic acid moieties capable of binding calcium ions and facilitating their biomineralization with calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate is reported. Human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on films mineralized with calcium phosphate show enhanced levels of alkaline phosphatase activity suggesting that such composites have potential use for bone tissue engineering.
KW  - spider silk
KW  - recombinant protein
KW  - biodegradable polymers
KW  - biomaterials
KW  - biomineralization
KW  - bone tissue engineering
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9070560
SN  - 1996-1944
VL  - 9
SP  - 93
EP  - 108
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  -