On the Use of Radiation Technology for Nanoscale Engineering of Silver/ Hydrogel Based Nanocomposites for Potential Biomedical Application

For nanoscience to become true nanotechnology, there is a need for breakthroughs in the engineering science of processing and manufacturing at the nanoscale. The radiation technology may offer a novel approaches to solving the problems of placement, high throughput, as well as integration across multiple length scales. Furthermore, there are critical needs for advanced materials in the area of biomaterial engineering, primarily in generating biomaterials of enhanced specific functionalities, which can be achieved by introduction of proper functionalities at the nanoscale dimensions. The radiation techniques are uniquely suited for such task, due to their favorable characteristics and in most cases not possible by other methods of synthesis. Therefore, we are systematically developing novel synthetic strategies for incorporation of noble metal nanoparticles in hydrogel networks by gamma irradiation, for possible biomedical application, using liquid filled cavities in hydrogels as nanoreactors (template synthesis). The radiation process has various advantages, such as easy process control, the possibility of joining synthesis and sterilization in one technological step. The radiation technique does not require any extra substances, and does not need any further purification. On the other hand, in recent years nanoscale antibacterial materials, such as nanocrystalline silver, as novel antimicrobial species have been seen as promising candidates for application owing to their high surface to volume ratio and their novel physical and chemical properties on the nanoscale level. Silver can be safely used even for patients who have diseases like Diabetes Mellitus that interfere with wound healing. The recent emergence of nanotechnology has provided a new therapeutic modality in silver nanoparticles for healing wounds.