title: Fabrication, nanomechanical characterization, and cytocompatibility of gold-reinforced chitosan bio-nanocomposites.
abstract: Chitosan, a naturally derived polymer represents one of the most technologically important classes of active materials with applications in a variety of industrial and biomedical fields. Gold nanoparticles (~32 nm) were synthesized via a citrate reduction method from chloroauric acid and incorporated in Chitosan matrix. Bio-nanocomposite films with varying concentrations of gold nanoparticles were prepared through solution casting process. Uniform distribution of gold nanoparticles was achieved throughout the chitosan matrix and was confirmed with SEM. Synthesis outcomes and prepared nanocomposites were characterized using SEM, TEM, EDX, SAED, UV-vis, XRD, DLS, and Zeta potential for their physical, morphological and structural properties. Nanoscale properties of materials under the influence of temperature were characterized through nanoindentation techniques. From quasi-static nanoindentation, it was observed that hardness and reduced modulus of the nanocomposites were increased significantly in direct proportion to the gold nanoparticle concentration. Gold nanoparticle concentration also showed positive impact on storage modulus and thermal stability of the material. The obtained films were confirmed to be biocompatible by their ability to support growth of human cells in vitro. In summary, the results show enhanced mechanical properties with increasing gold nanoparticle concentration, and provide better understanding of the structure-property relationships of such biocompatible materials for potential biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA; Materials Science and Engineering PhD Program, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA.
authors.forename: Nimitt G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Materials Processing, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA.
authors.forename: Ajeet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA.
authors.forename: Veroni N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Jayawardana
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA.
authors.forename: Craig D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Woodworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA. Electronic address: pyuya@clarkson.edu.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Yuya
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D006046:Gold; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; Gold nanoparticles; Mechanical properties; Nanocomposites; Nanoindentation