LAUSR

Abstract The objects of this research were two types of polymer nanocomposites: poly(e-caprolactone)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PCL/MWCNTs) and poly(e-caprolactone)/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PCL/MWCNTs-f) (without and with oxidative treatment of MWCNTs prior to nanocomposite production, respectively). These nanocomposites are promising materials for medical and tissue engineering applications. The cell proliferation test, performed by culturing of osteoblast-like U-2 OS cells line (human bone osteosarcoma epithelial cells) on the surface of tested nanocomposites, confirmed their high biocompatibility. In order to distinguish the nature of cells-material interactions the two-dimensional (2D) Raman correlation spectroscopy technique was used. It revealed more developed changes in the proteins of the cells cultured on the PCL/MWCNTs-f compare to PCL/MWCNTs, as the conformation β of amide I emerged in the asynchronous map of PCL/MWCNTs-f. Moreover, it was confirmed that the functionalization of MWCNTs leads to a different pattern of nanocomposite interaction with cells, for PCL/MWCNTs-f the formed cross-peaks indicate the creation of combined domains of polymer with cell proteins. Whereas for PCL/MWCNTs it was predominantly the nanotubes’ amorphous component D1 that induced the cross-peaks formation.