Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial study on the chitosan-functionalized Ag nanoparticles

- This study provided a hydrothermal method to synthesize chitosan-Ag colloid.
- Chitosan-Ag colloid has been characterized by UV, FTIR, TEM, AFM and XRD.
- Antibacterial tests revealed chitosan-Ag colloid have great bactericidal efficiency.

This study provided a facile, one-step hydrothermal method to synthesize stable Ag colloid in aqueous solution by utilizing chitosan as both reductant and stabilizer. The formation of chitosan-functionalized Ag nanoparticles was verified by UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, AFM and XRD measurements. FTIR results revealed that the primary amine groups and amide groups of chitosan have specific interactions with the surface of Ag nanoparticles. The average diameter of the Ag nanoparticles is 10.0 ± 5.4 nm as determined by TEM. Ag nanoparticles are highly crystalline as revealed by HR-TEM and XRD measurements. The size and shape of Ag nanoparticles are also found to depend on the pH condition in the synthesis. Ag nanoparticles were the main products at pH 5.0 whereas large Ag nanotriangle and truncated triangular nanoplate were dominant at pH 4.0 in the synthesis. Due to its monodispersity and good stability, the chitosan-functionalized Ag colloid synthesized at pH 5.0 was further tested for its antibacterial activities against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and fungus. The results of zone of inhibition, inhibition ratio and SEM characterization revealed that chitosan-functionalized Ag nanoparticles have great bactericidal efficiency against both bacteria and fungus.

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