In vitro cytotoxicity of hydrogels based on chitosan and modified with gold nanoparticles

Hydrogels belong to the group of polymers that recently become more and more popular. This is a result of unique properties of the mentioned materials such as biocompatibility, biodegradability as well as a great sorption capacity. Combination of such polymers with gold nanoparticles results in the preparation of innovative materials that can be applicable in wide range of areas with special emphasis on medicine. In present publication series of chitosan based hydrogels modified with gold nanoparticles were prepared. These materials were subsequently characterized by a number of physicochemical analysis concerning determination of cytotoxicity to epidermal cells. Based on these research it can be concluded that hydrogels containing small quantities of gold nanoparticles do not exhibit toxicity in relation to these cells. Furthermore, it can be said that addition of nanogold into hydrogel resulted in a decrease of its porosity as well as in a slight decrease of the sorption capacity of materials tested. Prepared polymers were characterized by biocompatibility in relation to simulated body fluid. Proposed hydrogels constitute an interesting type of materials that could be potentially considered for biomedical use.