Effect of calcium sulphate nanorods on mechanical properties of chitosan-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer nanocomposites

[Display omitted] •Grafting of HEMA over chitosan caused the improvement in hydrophilicity.•Dispersion of nanofillers rolled out in modified mechanical properties.•With increase in amount of nano-CaSO4, tensile strength & tensile modulus improved.•Nano-CaSO4 did not impart any negative effect over biodegradation of chitosan. Copolymers of chitosan and hydroxyetheyl methacrylate (HEMA) were successfully synthesized using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator, via in situ polymerization method, followed by efficacious preparation of their nanocomposites by incorporating calcium sulphate nanorods via solution blending process. Hydrophilicity studies confirmed that grafting of HEMA in the backbone of the hydrophobic chitosan chains induced the improvement in hydrophilicity of chitosan, while mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were also enhanced significantly up to 20%, due to availability of enlarged surface area and higher aspect ratio of CaSO4 nanorods. This was supported by FE-SEM and XRD analysis in terms of proper distribution of nanofiller through the copolymer matrix and corresponding rise in percentage crystallanity respectively. Results obtained from biodegradation studies proved the efficiency of CaSO4 nanofillers to improve biomechanical strength of chitosan nanocomposites, without affecting their normal degradation profile that renders the products to be applicable for biomedical applications.