Title:Development of Silver Nanoparticles/Gelatin Thermoresponsive Nanocomposites: Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity
Volume: 25
Issue: 38
Author(s): Juan M. Galdopórpora, Marina F. Morcillo, Angelina Ibar, Claudio J. Perez, Maria V. Tuttolomondo and Martin F. Desimone*
Affiliation:
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Quimica y Metabolismo del Farmaco (IQUIMEFA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica, Junin 956, Piso 3° (1113), Buenos Aires,Argentina
Keywords:
Antimicrobial material, thermoresponsive material, silver nanoparticles, tissue engineering, wound healing, nanocomposite.
Abstract:
Background: Skin and soft tissue infections involve microbial invasion of the skin and underlying soft
tissues. To overcome this problem, nanocomposites were obtained using gelatin as a biopolymer scaffold and
silver nanoparticles as a wide spectrum antimicrobial agent. Water and glycerol have been used as solvents for the
gelatin hydrogel synthesis. This mixture led to a stable and homogeneous biomaterial with improved mechanical
properties.
Methods: Silver nanoparticles were characterized using SEM, EDS and TEM. Moreover, the AgNp/gelatin nanocomposite
obtained using these nanoparticles was characterized using SEM and FTIR. Moreover, mechanical and
swelling properties were studied.
Results: The storage modulus was 3000 Pa for gelatin hydrogels and reached 5800 Pa for AgNp/gelatin nanocomposite.
Silver nanoparticles have been studied as an alternative to antibiotics. Importantly, the rate of silver
release was modulated as a function of the temperature of the nanocomposite. Thus, the silver release from the
nanocomposites at 24 °C and 38 °C was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The silver release reached
25% after 24 h at 24 °C, while a 75% release was achieved at 38°C in the same period, showing the material
thermoresponsive behavior. AgNp/gelatin nanocomposite showed a deleterious effect over 99.99% of Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, leading to a material with antimicrobial properties.
Conclusion: AgNp/gelatin nanocomposite with improved mechanical properties and silver nanoparticles as a
source of silver ions has been synthesized. The properties of the nanocomposite with controlled silver delivery
result in a more efficient topical pharmaceutical form for wound healing applications.