Controlled production of alginate nanocomposites with incorporated silver nanoparticles aimed for biomedical applications

Abstract

Production of nanocomposite alginate microbeads with electrochemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on electrostatic extrusion technique was investigated with respect to potentials for utilization in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. It was shown that electrochemical synthesis of AgNPs results in reduction of practically all Ag+ ions present in the initial solution yielding stable Ag/alginate colloid solutions that were demonstrated to be suitable for sterilization, manipulation, and electrostatic extrusion with retention of AgNPs. Presence of AgNPs in alginate colloid solutions had negligible effects on the size of the produced Ag/alginate microbeads, which was chiefly determined by the applied electrostatic potential during the extrusion. On the other hand, incorporation of AgNPs within the alginate hydrogel induced slight changes in biomechanical properties determined in a biomimetic bioreactor, so that packed beds of nanocomposite Ag/alginate microbeads exhibited slightly higher dynamic compression modulus as compared to that of control alginate microbeads (154 ? 4 and 141 ? 2 kPa, respectively). On the other hand, equilibrium unconfined compression modulus was significantly lower for nanocomposite microbeads as compared to that of controls (34 ? 2 and 47 ? 0.5 kPa, respectively).