Graphene oxide and cannabidiol-based hybrid coatings on PMMA for biomedical applications

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is commonly used in medical devices for the oral cavity. It is precisely due to its biocompatibility, mechanical strength, wear resistance, and aesthetic qualities that it is so prolific. While widely used in dental and biomedical applications, PMMA has several limitations that necessitate improvement. Due to mechanical limitations, low impact resistance, susceptibility to cracking and wear, low thermal conductivity, and microbial adhesion, various modifications have been introduced. In this study, the PMMA surface was modified with a SiO₂ coating obtained from a TEOS precursor under both acidic and alkaline conditions using the sol-gel method. Additionally, Graphene oxide (GO) and cannabidiol (CBD) were added to the coating, and the mechanical properties of the modified coatings were studied. This study aimed to investigate the effect of surface modification on the physicochemical properties of PMMA. The coatings were subjected to comprehensive physicochemical investigations, including TGA, FTIR, XPS, SEM, surface topography, surface wettability, Shore hardness, and tribological evaluations in artificial saliva. The study confirmed that the modification of PMMA with SiO₂, GO and CBD has a beneficial effect on their structure, chemical properties, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and potentially the antibacterial of PMMA for used in biomedical applications.