Measurement methodology toward determination of structure-property relationships in acrylic hydrogels with starch and nanogold designed for biomedical applications

Abstract

This work describes measurement methodology on acrylic acid-based hydrogels with nanogold and starch, including evaluation of pro-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity by MTT reduction assay, swelling capacity, tensile strength using Brookfield texture analyzer, surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy, structure by FT-IR spectroscopy, crystallinity by X-ray diffraction and hydrogel behaviour in simulated body fluids. The modified polymers exhibited approx. 75% lower deformation than unmodified polymer. Hydrogels showed buffering properties in simulated body fluids. Hydrogels containing 5–10% starch solution did not exhibit cytotoxicity. Cells exposed to unmodified hydrogel and to hydrogels containing 5% and 10% starch solutions were characterized by the desired morphology. Importantly, hydrogel nanocomposites have not showed pro-inflammatory activity. It was proved that highly developed specific surface area of modified hydrogels affected their sorption properties. Nanogold present in nanocomposites did not affect directly their physicochemical properties but, due to its features, antibacterial activity of so modified materials could be enhanced.