Synthesis of Cu-Nanoparticle Hydrogel with Self-Healing and Photothermal Properties.
Shuai ChenFu TangLiangzhen TangLidong LiPublished in: ACS applied materials & interfaces (2017)
Copper (Cu) nanoparticles possess unusual electrical, thermal, and optical properties. However, applications of these materials are often limited by their tendency to oxidize. We prepared Cu nanoparticles by a simple polyol method, with a good control over the particle size. The reaction required no inert atmosphere or surfactant agents. The as-prepared Cu nanoparticles showed good resistance to oxidation in solution. These Cu nanoparticles were then incorporated into a biocompatible polysaccharide hydrogel, which further stabilized the nanoparticles. The hybrid hydrogel exhibited a rapid self-healing ability. Because of the excellent photothermal conversion properties of the embedded Cu nanoparticles, the hybrid hydrogel showed rapid temperature elevation under laser irradiation. The hybrid hydrogel showed limited cytotoxicity; however, under laser irradiation the hydrogel displayed antibacterial properties owing to the heating effects. This study demonstrates that our hybrid hydrogel may have applications in biomedical fields and photothermal therapy.