Synthesis of N,O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Aldehyde Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Loading Silver Nanoparticles

The enormous potential of a hydrogel from Aldehyde Hyaluronic Acid (AHA)—a modification of Hyaluronan, and N,O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan (NOCC)—a polymer derived from Chitosan, has been discussed in our previous study. This research presents two approaches to combine silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with the hydrogel in order to yield a bioglue with higher antimicrobial property. The first one utilized the reaction between reactive aldehyde groups in D-glucuronic acid units of the AHA molecular chain and Tollens’ reagent, which is known as silver mirror reaction, while the latter attempted to synthesize NOCC–AHA hydrogel loading AgNPs through thermal decomposition of silver nitrate (AgNO3) with NOCC and AHA respectively. From primary results, heating a mixture of AgNO3–NOCC appeared to attain the best hydrogel in terms of gelation time and elasticity, broadening the application of the hydrogels in the medical field.