Smart, self-repair polymers based on acryloyl-6-aminocaproic acid and modified with magnetic nanoparticles—preparation and characterization

Abstract

ABSTRACTCapability of materials to self-repair is an innovative and unique property from a point of view both chemistry and physics. Moreover, such property could arouse special interests if such an ability could be caused by the selection of the environmental parameters. Such materials—polymers based on acryloyl-6-aminocaproic acid (A6ACA)—were synthesized in the present paper. In addition, mentioned polymers have been modified with different amount of magnetic nanoparticles solution. Subsequently, sorption capacity and behavior of synthesized polymers in simulated body fluids have been determined. What is also important, studies on cytotoxicity of prepared materials in relation to fibroblasts and cells of cancer origin have been conducted. Materials have also been analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy method. Based on the research aiming at physicochemical characteristics of abovementioned materials it was proved that prepared hydrogels showed self-repair property in a low pH environment. Apart from this essential issue, these were characterized by high sorption capacity, high porosity which decreases with the introduced amount of nanoparticles and, what is important, cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Such combination is a very interesting from a point of view of many realms and due to its unique features may be widely applicable in the nearest future.