Synthesis of nanosilver loaded chitosan/poly(acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) based inter-polyelectrolyte complex films for antimicrobial applications

• AgNPs-Chitosan solution forms interpolyelectrolyte complex films with anionic poly(AAm-co-IA).
• These films show fair antibacterial property against strong pathogen E. Coli.
• The Particle size of synthesized AgNPs was found to be in the range 10–30 nm.

In the present work, AgNPs loaded chitosan/poly(acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) inter-polyelectrolyte complex (IPC) films have been prepared for antimicrobial applications. The AgNPs–loaded IPC films have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Particle size of synthesized AgNPs was found to be in the range 10–30 nm. These films exhibited a remarkable antibacterial property against strong pathogen E.Coli, thus offering their candidature for antimicrobial applications.