Nowadays polymer nanocomposites represent an important stake in scientific research and offer a combination of properties with respect to single components. The present work deals with nanocomposite hydrogels obtained from alginate, a biobased polymer, which is employed as a biocompatible matrix for the encapsulation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Alginate nanocomposite hydrogels were obtained through crosslinking with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and d-glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) at different AgNP concentrations. The effect of the encapsulation of AgNPs within alginate hydrogels on their porous structure and the AgNP dispersion was evaluated through field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Oscillatory rheological measurements were carried out in order to determine the alginate/AgNP ratio suitable for achieving a higher elastic modulus. Finally, nanocomposite alginate hydrogels were found to be effective against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, with inhibition zones ranging between 5 and 7 cm after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. Therefore, the present work proposes a nanocomposite alginate hydrogel for application as bactericidal materials in the biotechnology and biomedical fields. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Preparation of alginate hydrogels containing silver nanoparticles: a facile approach for antibacterial applications
Rescignano N.;Kenny J. M.Supervision
;
2016
Abstract
Nowadays polymer nanocomposites represent an important stake in scientific research and offer a combination of properties with respect to single components. The present work deals with nanocomposite hydrogels obtained from alginate, a biobased polymer, which is employed as a biocompatible matrix for the encapsulation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Alginate nanocomposite hydrogels were obtained through crosslinking with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and d-glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) at different AgNP concentrations. The effect of the encapsulation of AgNPs within alginate hydrogels on their porous structure and the AgNP dispersion was evaluated through field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Oscillatory rheological measurements were carried out in order to determine the alginate/AgNP ratio suitable for achieving a higher elastic modulus. Finally, nanocomposite alginate hydrogels were found to be effective against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, with inhibition zones ranging between 5 and 7 cm after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. Therefore, the present work proposes a nanocomposite alginate hydrogel for application as bactericidal materials in the biotechnology and biomedical fields. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
