A facile and green method for the production of novel and potentially biocompatible poly(amide-imide)/ZrO2–poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites containing trimellitylimido-l-leucine linkages

Abstract

We have reported the synthesis of nanocomposites (NCs) based on chiral poly(amide-imide) (PAI) and modified zirconium nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs) with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The optically active PAI was prepared under the green condition via the direct polycondensation of biocompatible trimellitylimido-l-leucine diacid and 4,4′-diaminediphenylsulfone in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide and triphenyl phosphite as the green solvent and the activating agents. NPs, due to a high surface to volume ratio, have a great tendency to agglomerate in the polymer matrix. So, at first, the surface of ZrO₂ NPs was modified with the PVA as the biodegradable and biocompatible polymer. Afterward, the modified NPs were added into the PAI matrix in the ethanol solution under ultrasonic irradiations. The obtained PAI/ZrO₂–PVA NCs (PZ–PNC)s were characterized by various techniques. The Fourier transform infrared proved the formation of PZ–PNCs. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy exhibited that ZrO₂NPs had good dispersion in the PAI matrix, and transmission electron microscopy indicated that ZrO₂ NPs were coated by a nanometer-thick layer of PVA that was about 10 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the ZrO₂ NPs retained their crystalline structure after they were added in the PAI matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis illustrated that the prepared PZ–PNCs had a better thermal stability than the neat PAI.