Journal of Nanosciences: Current Research

Characterization of Biocompatible Nanocomposite based on Silica, Dextran and Lidocaine

Abstract

Olesia Dudik, Alexandre Ferreira, Ana Mafalda Ribeiro, Cláudia Gomes Silva, Joaquim L Faria, Alírio E Rodrigues and José Miguel Loureiro

A silica/dextran/lidocaine nanocomposite (SiO/DEX/LID) was synthesized using acid-catalyzed sol-gel process. The resulting material was characterised using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopic analysis, diffusive reflectance spectroscopy in UV–Vis range, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption method. LID was found to interact with the silica/dextran nanocomposite (SiO/DEX) via hydrogen bond formation between the carbonyl group of LID and SiO/DEX network. Analysis of nanocomposite with help of the series of complementary techniques ruled out the possibility of interaction between LID and the silica modified surface through the nitrogen atoms of the drug molecule. The findings reveal the potential of SiO/DEX/LID nanocomposite for being used in the preparation of medical patches for wounds and burns healing.