Thiol-Ene Click Synthesis of Alginate Hydrogels Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles and Cefepime

Abstract

Hydrogels used in biomedical applications, particularly for soft tissue treatment and regeneration, should have favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Alginate hydrogels are suitable for developing wound dressings with desirable porosity, facilitating effective gas and vapor exchange necessary for wound healing. In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of photocrosslinked hydrogels based on sodium alginate allyl glycidyl ether (SA-AGE). The composition and structure of the synthesized macromers were confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of pores ranging in size from 5–32 µm. The UV light polymerization of SA-AGE hydrogel using the photoinitiator I295 was achieved within 60 minutes. The absorption of silver particles and the drug cefepime was determined through titration and UV-spectroscopy, indicating that the optimal concentration was 1 %. The antibacterial activity of the hydrogels loaded with silver nanoparticles and cefepime was evaluated against gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) strains. Cytotoxicity of the hydrogels was assessed using the MTT assay with rat ADMSC cells, and the cell survival rate in the presence of the hydrogels was above 80 %, indicating their non-cytotoxic nature.