Efeito da funcionalização com quitosana e glutaraldeído para obtenção de materiais híbridos a partir do ZnAl1,95 (Yb:Er) 0,05O4, visando aplicações biotecnológicas.

Abstract

The use of inorganic nanoparticles containing luminescent properties (NPLs) has received a special attention because of their use for biological applications, such as optical markers in vitro and in vivo, in clinical diagnostics and as drug carriers. However, for such biotechnological applications inorganic nanoparticles must be functionalized with organic materials that provide groups of connections with the biological environment making these nanoparticles biocompatible. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize the combustion reaction ZnAl1,95(Yb:Er)0,05O4, modify the surface with silane agent 3-amonipropyltrimethoxysilane, and to evaluate the functionalization effect of these NPLs with chitosan and glutaraldehyde, in order to obtain a hybrid material that can be used in biotechnological applications as possible optical markers. The NPLs and hybrid materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, spectroscopy in infrared zone with Fourier transform, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface tension, solubility test, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, excitation and emission spectroscopy and cytotoxicity. Morphology results show that before and after functionalization with chitosan and glutaraldehyde particle sizes were of 12.0, 13.2 and 12.8 nm, respectively. Absorption bands below 1000 cm-1, characteristic of the spinel structure and multiple bands around 1100 cm-1 and 1040 cm-1 corresponding to the asymmetric stretching Si-O confirmed the functionalization of the nanoparticles. The luminescence results demonstrate the presence of transitions characteristic of the ions Er3+ and Yb3+, with an increase of luminescence observed when the sample was functionalized with chitosan. By the cytotoxicity test it was observed that the non functionalized NPLs have a cell viability of 50% and this is limiting value to considerate that material as non toxic, but when using chitosan as the functionalizing agent that cell viability increased to 72%, confirming a considerable increase in biocompatibility of the material. For hybrid functionalized with glutaraldehyde, it is observed that there was a decreased cell viability to 48%, which makes this material cytotoxic. Thus, for an optical marker obtaining the NPLs functionalized with chitosan are more promising because of its luminescence characteristic more pronounced, and is not considered a cytotoxic material which can confirm a possible biotechnological application.