{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T16:29:38Z","timestamp":1790353778361,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,3,6]],"date-time":"2019-03-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1551830400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nanomaterials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Hydrogels (HG) have recognized benefits as drug delivery platforms for biomedical applications. Their high sensitivity to sterilization processes is however one of the greatest challenges regarding their clinical translation. Concerning infection diseases, prevention of post-operatory related infections is crucial to ensure appropriate patient recovery and good clinical outcomes. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have shown good antimicrobial properties but sustained release at the right place is required. Thus, we produced and characterized thermo-sensitive HG based on Pluronic\u00ae F127 loaded with AgNPs (HG-AgNPs) and their integrity and functionality after sterilization by dry-heat and autoclave methods were carefully assessed. The quality attributes of HG-AgNPs were seriously affected by dry-heat methods but not by autoclaving methods, which allowed to ensure the required sterility. Also, direct sterilization of the final HG-AgNPs product proved more effective than of the raw material, allowing simpler production procedures in non-sterile conditions. The mechanical properties were assessed in post mortem rat models and the HG-AgNPs were tested for its antimicrobial properties in vitro using extremely drug-resistant (XDR) clinical strains. The produced HG-AgNPs prove to be versatile, easy produced and cost-effective products, with activity against XDR strains and an adequate gelation time and spreadability features and optimal for in situ biomedical applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nano9030380","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,3,7]],"date-time":"2019-03-07T10:52:22Z","timestamp":1551955942000},"page":"380","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":36,"title":["Sterilization Procedure for Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogels Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles for Clinical Applications"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3180-3028","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diana","family":"Rafael","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Centre for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM-Nanomedicine), Vall d\u2019Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Networking Research Centre for Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4947-2346","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fernanda","family":"Andrade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Centre for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM-Nanomedicine), Vall d\u2019Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"i3S-Instituto de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o e Inova\u00e7\u00e3o em Sa\u00fade, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-180 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"INEB-Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biom\u00e9dica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-180 Porto, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesc","family":"Martinez-Trucharte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Centre for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM-Nanomedicine), Vall d\u2019Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jana","family":"Basas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory, Vall d\u2019Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d\u2019Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16\/0016\/0003), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7893-4773","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joaqu\u00edn","family":"Seras-Franzoso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Centre for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM-Nanomedicine), Vall d\u2019Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4567-9868","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marta","family":"Palau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory, Vall d\u2019Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d\u2019Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16\/0016\/0003), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xavier","family":"Gomis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory, Vall d\u2019Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d\u2019Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9754-8301","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marc","family":"P\u00e9rez-Burgos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Centre for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM-Nanomedicine), Vall d\u2019Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alberto","family":"Blanco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d\u2019Hebron, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d\u2019Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Passeig de la Vall d\u2019Hebron 129-139, 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6072-0294","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alba","family":"L\u00f3pez-Fern\u00e1ndez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d\u2019Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Passeig de la Vall d\u2019Hebron 129-139, 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8917-6050","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberto","family":"V\u00e9lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d\u2019Hebron, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d\u2019Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Passeig de la Vall d\u2019Hebron 129-139, 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5970-6276","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ibane","family":"Abasolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Centre for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM-Nanomedicine), Vall d\u2019Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Networking Research Centre for Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M\u00e0rius","family":"Aguirre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d\u2019Hebron, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joan","family":"Gavald\u00e0","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory, Vall d\u2019Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d\u2019Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16\/0016\/0003), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8297-7971","authenticated-orcid":false,"suffix":"Jr.","given":"Sim\u00f3","family":"Schwartz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Centre for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM-Nanomedicine), Vall d\u2019Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Networking Research Centre for Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,3,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1379","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addr.2006.09.004","article-title":"Hydrogels in controlled release formulations: network design and mathematical 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