The synthesis and biodegradability of silver nanoparticles doped ZIF-8 composites injectable hydrogel.

Abstract

This study is aimed to investigate the incorporation of homemade ZIF-8 nanocarriers with PEG injectable hydrogel. ZIF-8 is currently approved to be a potential drug nanocarrier that is biocompatible for a number of biomedical applications. In this study, the ZIF-8 nanocarrier is doped with sliver nanoparticles (AgNPs) which result in a synergistic antibacterial effect. Both stability and degradation of ZIF-8 are closely related to the amount and release rate. The ZIF-8 based injectable hydrogel can be successfully synthesized at room temperature. By exposing specimens in water and in PBS solution media for designated time intervals (12~72 hrs), changes in size and morphology as well as elemental distribution were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).