PLGA/Ag nanocomposites: in vitro degradation study and silver ion release

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine Vol. 22; no. 12; pp. 2735 - 2744
• Main Authors: Fortunati, E., Latterini, L., Rinaldi, S., Kenny, J. M., Armentano, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-12-2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Biomaterials; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Drug Delivery Systems; Glass; Ions; Lactic Acid - chemistry; Materials Science; Materials Testing; Medical sciences; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanocomposites; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Natural Materials; Optics and Photonics; Polyglycolic Acid - chemistry; Polylactic acid; Polymer Sciences; Polymers - chemistry; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Silver; Silver - chemistry; Solvents - chemistry; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Surfaces and Interfaces; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Thermogravimetry; Thin Films; Silver Nanoparticles; Nanocomposite Film; Field Emission Scan Electron Microscopy Image; Field Emission Scan Electron Microscopy; Chain Scission; Biodegradation; Glycolic acid copolymer; Biological properties; Silver; Lactone copolymer; Biodegradability; Lactic acid copolymer; Nanocomposite; Release; Composite material; Biomedical engineering
• ISSN: 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-011-4450-0

New nanocomposite films based on a biodegradable poly (DL-Lactide-co-Glycolide) copolymer (PLGA) and different concentration of silver nanoparticles (Ag) were developed by solvent casting. In vitro degradation studies of PLGA/Ag nanocomposites were conducted under physiological conditions, over a 5 week period, and compared to the behaviour of the neat polymer. Furthermore the silver ions (Ag
+
) release upon degradation was monitored to obtain information on the properties of the nanocomposites during the incubation. The obtained results suggest that the PLGA film morphology can be modified introducing a small percentage of silver nanoparticles that do not affect the degradation mechanism of PLGA polymer in the nanocomposite. However results clearly evinced the stabilizing effect of the Ag nanoparticles in the PLGA polymer and the mineralization process induced by the combined effect of silver and nanocomposite surface topography. The Ag
+
release can be controlled by the polymer degradation processes, evidencing a prolonged antibacterial effect.