Preparation, Characterization and Antifungal Activity Studies of AgNPs Loaded Silk Fibroin Hydrogels

Rezaul Haque Ansary,Sabina Easmin,Ali Asraf,Tomal Roy

doi:10.11648/j.nano.20200802.13

Abstract

Silk fibroin hydrogels are promising materials for controlled drug delivery device due to their aqueous process ability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The research work is aimed to prepare silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels loaded with Ag nanoparticles and to evaluate its antifungal activities. The Silk fibroin hydrogels were formulated at 37°C using 2% (w/v) silk fibroin aqueous solution either by treating 50% (v/v) of ethanol, or 50% (v/v) of propanol, or 50% (v/v) of glycerol, respectively. Above these, the rate of gelation was sufficiently accelerated by addition of glycerol. The silk fibroin hydrogels and prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermo Gravimetrical Analysis (TGA). The encapsulation efficiency and release profile of AgNPs were studied by UV-vis spectrometry. The particle size of AgNPs was measured by Malvern Zetasizer Nano and found 93±5 nm. The encapsulation efficiency and morphology of the hydrogels was affected by the formulation conditions. The in vitro release profile showed an initial burst release of AgNPs followed by controlled release for next 20 hours. The antifungal activity of AgNPs loaded SF hydrogels showed a positive response to Aspergillus Niger pathogen. Therefore, silk fibroin hydrogels might be an effective biopolymeric matrix for antifungal applications.

Highlights

Hydrogels based drug delivery systems are engineered materials that use hydrogels as encapsulation of drugs and cells, vehicles for the targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents [1]
Silk fibroin hydrogels were prepared by adding different contents of dehydrating solvents such as ethanol, or propanol, or glycerol in different contents of silk fibroin dialyzed solutions
It has been reported that the addition of dehydrating solvent in silk fibroin solution alters SF intra and intermolecular interactions resulting in a conformational change from the random coil to β sheet [26]

Summary

Introduction

Hydrogels based drug delivery systems are engineered materials that use hydrogels as encapsulation of drugs and cells, vehicles for the targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents [1]. In the last three decades, micro and nanoparticles based polymeric systems have been widely explored for controlled and targeted delivery of drugs and antigens in variety of forms (films, gels, capsules, tablets and creams) mainly due to their ability to sustained drug release for long periods of time, enhanced target, low toxicity, easy manipulation/administration [3,4,5,6]. Biomaterials for controlled drug delivery systems have to meet several requirements They need to be biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, cheap and straight forward to process [10,11]. Silk fibroin based new materials such as powders, films, gels, microparticles, and nanoparticles have been explored for Rezaul Haque Ansary et al.: Preparation, Characterization and Antifungal Activity Studies of

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