Synthesis and properties of a poly(sodium acrylate) bioadhesive nanocomposite

ABSTRACT

Poly(sodium acrylate) (PNaA) based nanocomposites were synthesized using different nanosilver loadings via redox solution polymerization at room temperature and under full exposure to the atmosphere. The nanocomposites exhibited increasing antibacterial activity with increased nanosilver content. Biocompatibility was determined using an MTT assay; no significant cytotoxicity was observed at the examined nanosilver loadings. Adhesion was measured using a tensile test and the stress versus strain curve showed an acceptable stress development in the model tissue using bioadhesive containing 2 wt% nanosilver. Introducing a second, more degradable polymer to the system as an interpenetrating polymer network enabled tuning the bioadhesive degradation rate.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Bioadhesive
• poly(sodium acrylate)
• antibacterial property
• nanocomposite

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge Jamie-Lynn Sivell for assistance with bacterial culture preparation and Shidan Cummings for help with tensile tests.

Additional information

Funding

The authors also acknowledge the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.