Fabrication of Bio-ILs Modified O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels with Tunable Properties

Abstract

The emerging field of biomedical engineering demands innovative materials that can imitate the complex nature of biological tissues and facilitate the development of advanced therapeutic and diagnostic strategies by providing a natural environment for cells and tissues. Hydrogels, with their high-water content and biocompatibility, have emerged as promising candidates for various biomedical applications. Photo-crosslinked conducting hydrogels have garnered significant attention due to their versatility and tunable properties. This dissertation explores the synthesis of conducting hydrogels based on O-carboxymethyl chitosan photo-crosslinked with bio-ionic liquid which imparts the conducting properties. A series of products were synthesized and characterized by using FTIR, NMR, SEM, and XRD. The thermal, mechanical, and conducting properties of the products were investigated to tune these properties for the targeted application. Anti-bacterial activity of these polymers improved in comparison to the starting material. All the coupled products are highly biocompatible with cell viability of more than 70 % in NIH-3T3 (normal fibroblasts), and anti-cancer properties were also investigated against HEPG-2 (cancer cells), 2 synthesized products can kill more than 60 % of the cancer cells.