Determining the Distribution of Titanium Dioxide Particles within a Hydrogel Matrix

Authors:

• Students:
  • Jessica Alcantara
  • Tyler Havle
  • Olivia Roti
  • Estefany Ruiz
• Teachers:
  • Michelle Sachtleben
• Mentors:
  • Zou Finfrock (Argonne National Laboratory, Sector 20 ID-B)
  • James Hofmann (Lewis University)
  • Ian Deninger (Lewis University)

Advanced Photon Source Sector 20: Spectroscopy/PNC

The unique properties of hydrogels, such as non toxicity and biocompatibility, allow them to be applied in various settings. Notably, these properties make hydrogels useful for medical purposes such as wound coverage. The effectiveness of hydrogels as bandages can be augmented by the addition of nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties. Nanoparticles such as gold, silver and copper have been demonstrated to prevent growth of bacteria in chitosan-based hydrogels by Keleher et. al. Uniform distribution of nanoparticles is most effective at preventing bacterial growth throughout the entire hydrogel. Though titanium dioxide does not have antimicrobial properties, it can be used to study the distribution of nanoparticles in the matrix of the hydrogel and determine how nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties would be dispersed throughout the hydrogel. Ideally, the particles would be dispersed throughout the hydrogel in a homogeneous fashion.

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