In Vitro Toxicity Evaluation of Hydrogel-Carbon Nanotubes Composites on Intestinal Cells

BELLINGERI RV; ALUSTIZA F; PICCO N; ACEVEDO D; MOLINA MA; RIVERO R; GROSSO MC; MOTTA C; C. BARBERO; VIVAS A

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2015 vol. 132 p. 1 - 7

0021-8995

Composite materials based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polymeric hydrogelshave become the subject matter of major interest for use as carriers in drugdelivery research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the In vitro cytotoxicity ofthe hydrogel-carbon nanotube-chitosan (hydrogel-CNT-CH) composites onintestinal cells. Oxidized CNT were wrapped with chitosan (CH), FT-IR analysissuggest that oxidized CNT interact with chitosan. TEM images show a CH layerlying around CNT. Chitosan wrapped CNT were incorporated to Poly (acrylamideco-acrylic acid) hydrogels. Swelling behavior in buffers at different pH wereevaluated and revealed a significantly lower swelling when it is exposed to a acidbuffer solution (pH 2.2). Mechanical properties were evaluated by measurementsof elasticity and the material with CNT showed better mechanical properties. Theincorporation and liberation of Egg Yolk Immunoglobulin from hydrogel-CNT-CHwere also assessed and it revealed an improved performance. To evaluate theeffect of these nanocomposites on cellular redox balance, intestinal cells wereexposed to hydrogel-CNT-CH composites and antioxidant enzymes wereassessed. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were also evaluated. Hydrogel-CNT-CHcomposites induce no oxidative stress and there were no evidence of cytotoxicityor cell death. These preliminary findings suggest that hydrogel-CNT-CHcomposites show improved properties and good biocompatibility in vitro makingthese biomaterials promising systems for drug delivery purposes.