Insight into the interaction of pluronic F-127 functionalized boron nitride nanosheets with piezoelectric poly(L-lactic acid) nanofiber scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

Owing to their superior mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and piezoelectric behavior, boron nitride (BN) nanostructures have received significant attention in the biomedical field, including filler in biopolymer composites, drug delivery, and cell stimulation. Nevertheless, the functionalization of BN is essential to overcome their strong agglomeration tendency in solvents and enhance their dispersibility and interfacial interaction with polymer matrix. Herein, we report an efficient dual functionalization approach for BN nanosheets (BNNS) using oleylamine (OLA) and pluronic F127 (PLU). First, BNNS has functionalized with OLA via Lewis acid-base interactions between the amino groups of OLA and the boron atoms of BNNS and then followed by PLU via noncovalent interactions. The composites of PLU-functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (PLUBN) were reinforced into poly(L-lactic acid) nanofiber (PLF) matrix, and subsequent changes in physiochemical, mechanical, and piezoelectric properties were reported in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate the significant interaction between PLUBN and PLF. Further, in vitro studies with the preosteoblast (MC3T3-T1) cells evidenced decent biocompatibility and proliferation with enhanced osteogenic differentiation potentials for the composite scaffolds. Thus, in the future, the reported effective strategy could be employed for preparing BNNS-based piezoelectric biopolymer composites for tissue engineering applications.