Preparation of Electrically Conductive Biocompatible Nanocomposites of Natural Polymer Nanocrystals With Polyaniline via In Situ Chemical Oxidative Polymerization

Electrically conductive biocompatible nanocomposites were synthesized via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization using aniline with starch nanocrystals (SNCs) and their conductivity was investigated. Furthermore, Polyaniline (PANI) conducting nanocomposites with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were prepared and characterized. It was found that the SNCs with platelet-like structure have stronger ability for deposition of PANI than that of CNCs with rod-like structure, and in this respect can have better performance. These nanocomposites were formed either with aggregate or nanofibrillar morphology. The morphology of the nanocomposites was characterized with SEM. The electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites was examined by four-probe method and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Also, the biocompatible SNCs/PANI nanocomposites obtained in this work provide new possibilities in biomedical applications, tissue engineering and bio-actuators in the future. (C) 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers