Alginate microparticles containing silver@hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonate composites

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing effective antibacterial materials is crucial for preventing infections in tissue engineering.
• Alginate microparticles offer a versatile platform for drug delivery and tissue regeneration.
• Incorporating inorganic fillers can enhance the properties of alginate-based biomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize novel alginate microparticles loaded with silver@hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonate composites.
• To evaluate the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic properties of these microparticles for tissue engineering applications.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of alginate microparticles via cross-linking with calcium chloride.
• Incorporation of silver@hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonate composites into alginate.
• Characterization of water absorption, in vitro bioactivity (SBF immersion), antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm activity, and cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

• Silver@composite microparticles demonstrated significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against key pathogens.
• These silver-loaded microparticles exhibited cytotoxicity towards fibroblasts and osteoblasts.
• Microparticles containing hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonates showed reduced cytotoxicity compared to neat alginate microparticles.

Conclusions:

• Alginate microparticles incorporating silver@composites possess potent antimicrobial properties but require careful consideration of cytotoxicity for clinical use.
• The inclusion of hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonates in alginate microparticles mitigates cytotoxicity, suggesting a protective role for these inorganic matrices in tissue engineering scaffolds.