• black phosphorus
• liquid phase exfoliation (LPE)
• nanocomposites
• phosphorene
• photoactivity
• poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)

In this thesis, novel composite materials were prepared based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as the polymeric matrix and dispersed phosphorene (2D bP), the exfoliated derivative of black phosphorus (bP), as the nanostructured filler. The aim was to investigate their interactions in the perspective of possible biomedical applications.

The first part of the work focused on studying the liquid-phase exfoliation of bP in an aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) using ultrasounds. This exfoliation medium was chosen as a greener alternative to already employed toxic and dangerous organic solvents. The effectiveness of the exfoliation process was evaluated through stability and photoactivity measurements, which showed that SDS/water solution is a promising and safe sonication medium for bP. The project also aimed to optimize a reproducible, scalable, and reliable exfoliation procedure to obtain stable particles that can be used in the production of nanocomposites.

The second part of the work focused on the preparation of nanocomposites. PLGA was chosen as the polymer matrix because it is a biodegradable, biocompatible, and bioresorbable polymer that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for biomedical applications. It has also been reported as a valuable candidate for encapsulating phosphorene flakes to create safe composite systems that are suitable for biomedical applications.

The interactions of the polymer matrix with the nanofiller and their effect on the properties of the nanocomposites were investigated using a combination of morphological, thermal, and physical-chemical characterization techniques. All the results were discussed to highlight the relationship between the nanofiller concentration and the properties of the composite. The effects of the encapsulation process of 2D bP on photoactivity were also investigated with a view to their application in the biomedical field.