Biodegradable and Intrinsically Flexible Conducting polymer Microbial Cellulose Composite for Wearable Thermotherapy Applications

Abstract

Thermotherapy demonstrates momentous potential for tissue metabolism, pain relief, improved blood flow in rehabilitation including humans and animals, especially the ones who are suffering injuries. But, the wide-ranging implementation of this technology is stalled by the absence of decomposable nature of the materials, which has been used for the manufacturing of thermo- devices. Another major disadvantage of thermo- devices is lack of stretchability of the substrate, and alarms E-waste related problems in natural habitats. This work fetches this challenge by inspecting eco-friendly biodegradable conducting composite consisting of copolymer of conducting polymers, microbial cellulose, and plasticizer. As an environmentally safe biomass, microbial cellulose has high crystallinity, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and low cost. Accordingly, microbial cellulose will offer an exceptional thermoelectric effect over a wide range of temperatures. In this work, we propose that the introduction of a highly stable and thermally active conducting copolymer blended with microbial cellulose provides thermally active biocomposite for thermotherapy applications. Adding plasticizers will provide good flexibility and more stretchability to the conducting biocomposite. The combination of significant biodegradability and heat performing capacity will offer the current thermally active biodegradable composite for sustainable heat-therapy applications in rehabilitation for both humans and animals, well addressing the ecological issues allied with E-waste.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] Broad area of technology: Biotechnology, Field of invention: Sustainable Bio-Electronic Applications.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[002] Thermotherapy belongs to therapeutic application of any element to the body which gives heat to the body leads to increased tissue temperature resulting relief from different painful circumstances for both humans and animals. Wearable thermo- devices are indispensable in thermotherapy applications for producing and controlling heat, giving benefits such as better blood circulation, healing, muscle flexibility and pain relief from sprains, tendonitis etc. For Presently, reported wearable heaters are developed with conducting polymers, carbon-based nanomaterials, metal nano-wires etc, and these are combined with different types of substrates like synthetic fabric or polymers. But, a significant problem for these wearable heaters is its non-decomposable nature and ecologically unfriendly, which moreover intensifies the e-waste related problems because of increased usage of wearable thermo devices. To sustain a greener and cleaner planet, it is very important for the development of biodegradable electronic devices that use environmentally suitable materials capable of natural disintegration over time.
[003] Till date, fewer works are reported based on wearable and sustainable heaters. In 2017, M.Y et al reported a portable device based on stretchable and flexible PEDOT: PSS taking as elastomers and soft polymers as the substrate. Furthermore, several research groups have also started to explore the possibility of biocompatible conducting polymer-based hydrogels for bioelectronics and found out that an increase in ionic strength could help the gelation of conducting polymers in aqueous solutions. Based on earlier research, composite materials are blending with biologically active polymers and electronically responding materials, which offers a bio-sustainable and environmentally beneath solution. Recently, researchers reported a new biodegradable composite with clay and conducting polymers to enhance the degradability. But very rare work has reported on microbial cellulose based biodegradable wearable devices. In this work we designed a new type of wearable and flexible bio-composite blending with conducting co-polymers and microbial cellulose which offers admirable heating characteristics together with biodegradability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[004] The present invention aims at the fabrication of biologically decomposable, thermally active wearable, and flexible heater devices for thermotherapy, which focuses the rehabilitation of both humans and animals. Moreover, this work will contribute to the developments of eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable bio-composites for thermal applications. For the first time we are introducing thermally active conducting copolymers in the field of wearable thermo heaters. We have designed a bio-composite based on microbial cellulose, which will blend homogeneously during the copolymerization of selected conducting polymers along with plasticizers. The proper selection of plasticizers plays an imperative role for achieving enhanced flexibility and mechanical properties of the bio composites. Which are essential characteristics for portable and wearable device applications. The biodegradability studies evaluated by the rate of degradation of the bio composite films in the soil and thermal degradation can be done by the help of thermogravimetric analysis. Temperature dependent Joule heating applications studies help the electrothermal characteristics of the bio composite films. Furthermore, its flexibility and prominent biodegradability, make them perfect for thermo heater applications in wound healing and the ones who are suffering injuries deprived of concern about E-waste in the ecosystem.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[005] The formation of conductive biodegradable composite films from copolymerization of conducting copolymers/microbial cellulose/plasticizers mixtures with various proportions. Plasticizers maintain the wet stability of the biocomposite films because of its hygroscopic nature. The bio composite films are drying with the help of a vacuum oven at 600C. Characterization of bio composite films using TGA, XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, DSC, UTM etc. The comparison of mechanical properties of the biocomposite films for tensile stress-strain studies. Biodegradable studies of the bio composite films. The electrical conductivity studies using a four-point probe. Microstructural and surface morphology studies of the biocomposite films with the help of SEM and TEM. Temperature dependent thermal degradation studies from thermogravimetric analyzer. Electrothermal characteristics of the biocomposite films from Joule heating characterization studies. Studies based on time-dependent temperature properties of the heater against different voltages and connection between temperature and power consumption of the heater with different voltages. , C , Claims:[006] 1. The fabricated conducting copolymers/microbial cellulose/plasticizers bio composite films will be having increased biodegradability by incorporating microbial cellulose. Hence, proposed bio composite films will be a good candidate for bioelectronic applications.
[007] 2. Co-polymerization of conducting polymers will show controlled morphology, one-phase structure, and enhanced conductivities, which are suitable for thermotherapy device applications.
[008] 3. Incorporated plasticizers play multifunctional roles such as enhanced mechanical properties and flexibilities by creating hydrogen bonds with microbial cellulose but also with conducting copolymers.
[009] 4. Temperature dependent thermal characteristics suitable for assessing the thermal degradation of the bio composite.
[010] 5. Soil degradation studies are suitable to provide the information on biodegradability of the bio composite films.
[011] 6. Joule heating studies under low voltages suitable for examining the efficiency of bio composite film as a biodegradable thermo-heater.

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