Session Speaker

On the Use of Radiation Technology for Nanoscale Engineering of Silver/Hydrogel Based Nanocomposites for Potential Biomedical Application
Z. Kacarevic-Popovic, M. Dragaševic, A. Krklješ1, S. Popovic, Ž. Jovanovic, S. Tomic, V. Miškovic-Stankovic
Serbia

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. Therefore, we are systematically developing novel synthetic strategies for incorporation of 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.



Fig.1. Treatment of the diabetic foot wound with the silver containing dressing at the Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade

Acknowledgement This work is financed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, project CRP: F23028 contract No. 15384; Ministry of the Science and Technological development, Republic of Serbia (Contract Nos. 19027 and 142061).