The bio-inspired approach to controllable biomimetic synthesis of silver nanoparticles in organic matrix of chitosan and silver-binding peptide (NPSSLFRYLPSD)

Inspired by organic matrices in some life systems which can operate as templates for biosynthesis organic materials with uniform size and morphology, in our experiment, chitosan was combined with AG4 peptide (NPSSLFRYLPSD) to form a simple organic matrix, which was used as a template to synthesize particle size and morphology-controlling silver nanoparticles. The results of UV–vis determination and TEM observation indicated that uniform spherical silver nanoparticles with about 5 nm in size were obtained at the certain concentration of chitosan and silver ions. Hence, it is possible to control the size and morphology of silver nanoparticles at a certain extent by adjusting the concentration of chitosan and silver ions. In addition, triangle and hexagonal silver nanoparticles ranging from 20 nm to 60 nm in size appeared in different conditions. The advantage of this biomimetic synthesis of silver nanoparticles is that the process could be accomplished under mild conditions rather than stringent conditions, such as high temperature, very high pressures and a toxic environment, which usually occurs with the traditional methods for preparing metal nanoparticles.