Novel hydrogel composites for implant application

Abstract

[EN] Plasma-liquid electrochemistry was successfully used to synthesize gold nanoparticles in a watery background (AuNPs) and also embedded within a hydrogel network (PVA-AuNPs) without using any capping or reducing agents. Nanoparticles of different sizes and morphologies were obtained and the effect of the precursor concentration on the NPs size was examined. The effect of the hydrogel was also studied and it is though that it is responsible of stabilizing and avoiding the agglomeration of the NPs. This atmospheric-microplasma set-up was then used to create gold and silver mixed nanoparticles (Au-AgNPs) and PVA capped with these bimetallic nanoparticles (PVA-AuAgNPs). Their absorption properties were analysed using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and their size and shape using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antibacterial characteristics of the NPs embedded within the PVA matrix were also tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) showing a high bactericidal efficacy in the case of Au-Ag mixed nanoparticles. These hydrogel nanocomposites have a potential applicability in bioengineering and other fields because of these antibacterial properties and because of a simple, fast and environmental friendly preparation method that emphasizes their industrially viable nanomanufacturing capabilites.