abstract
Gold gelatin hydrogel nanocomposites crosslinked with genipin have been prepared, and the effect of citrate capped Au nanoparticles (NPs) as nanofillers in the crosslinking and swelling of gelatin and release of a model drug (methylene blue) from gelatin nanocomposites have been investigated. The citrate-capped Au NPs prevented the crosslinking reaction between the gelatin and genipin and resulted in less crosslinked hydrogels. Although less crosslinked, the Au gelatin nanocomposites swelled less than the unfilled crosslinked gelatin. The gelatin composites were optically active and thermo-sensitive in a temperature range acceptable for living cells. In vitro release studies demonstrated that the irradiation of the composite gels with monochromatic green light (10532 nm, 100 mW) increases the release of the encapsulated methylene blue, most likely due to the photothermal effect of Au nanoparticles. This opens the possibility to explore the application of these nanocomposites as carriers in remotely controlled light-triggered drug release.
keywords
STABILIZED GOLD NANOPARTICLES; GARDENIA-JASMINOIDES; ELECTROSPUN GELATIN; METHYLENE-BLUE; DRUG-RELEASE; LINKING; FILMS; NANOCOMPOSITES; POLYMERS; BEHAVIOR
subject category
Chemistry; Materials Science
authors
Daniel-da-Silva, AL; Salgueiro, AM; Trindade, T
our authors
Ana Luísa Daniel da Silva
Principal Researcher
Ana Margarida Martins Salgueiro Carta
PhD Student
Tito Trindade
Full professorProjects
acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (ERA-Eula/0003/2009, Pest-C/CTM/LA0011/2011), FSE, and POPH for funding. We thank the RNME (National Electronic Microscopy Network) for TEM images. The authors are very grateful to M.Sc. M.C. Azevedo and Dr. A.V. Girao (University of Aveiro, Chemistry Department) for technical support and to M.Sc. Marco Peres and Prof. Jorge Soares (University of Aveiro, Physics Department) for their assistance in laser experiments.