Hybrid Nanogels by Direct Mixing of Chitosan, Tannic Acid and Magnetite Nanoparticles: Processes Involved in Their Formation and Potential Catalytic Properties

MARZINI IRRANCA, SANTIAGO; GARCIA SCHEJTMAN, SERGIO DAVID; ROSSO, ANABELLA P.; CORONADO, EDUARDO A.; MARTINELLI, MARISA

SOFT MATTER

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Lugar: CAMBRIDGE; Año: 2023

1744-683X

properties, such as peroxidase-like activity. However, their biodistribution and availability for specific treatment still needto be improved. In this study, a simple and convenient strategy for the synthesis of hybrid nanogels (NGs) was described bydirect mixing of biomaterials such as chitosan (Ch) and tannic acid (TA), with the incorporation of MNPs, under oxidisingconditions, using the inverse nanoemulsion method. The different processes involved in the formation of these hybridnanosystems as well as their morphological and chemical structure are investigated using optical, spectroscopic, andelectron microscopic techniques (DLS, UV-VIS, FT-IR, XPS, TEM, SEM-EDS). It is demonstrated that synthesised ∼11 nmMNPs, post-functionalized with oxidised TA, act as covalent crosslinkers. As a proof of concept, the potential use of thesematerials in nanocatalytic medicine was evaluated using a colorimetric method based on the oxidation of 3,3ʹ,5,5ʹ-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in hydrogen peroxide. The results show that these hybrid nanogels have the same peroxidaselikeactivity as bare MNPs, indicating that the organic nanostructure stabilises the inorganic nanoparticles without anysignificant change in the catalytic properties. Therefore, this kind of nanomaterial has a promising potential to be used innanocatalytic medicine with improved biocompatibility and biodistribution.