Radiation-chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution of chitin derivative

Abstract

It has been demonstrated for the first time that, in the process of gamma-induced reduction of Ag⁺ in aqueous solution of biodegradable carboxymethyl chitin (CMC) polyelectrolyte, a metal-polymer colloidal solution is formed, wherein silver nanoparticles have spherical shape and a size of about 1–5 nm. By using UV–Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the influence of CMC concentration and radiation doses on the formation of clusters and silver nanoparticles in the metal-polymer colloidal solution is observed. Colloidal solutions of silver nanoparticles in CMC exhibit a clear concentration-dependent bactericidal activity toward the strains of Gram-positive Staphilococcus aureus, as well as Gram-negative Salmonella tythimurium bacteria.