Hybrid material based on ZnAl hydrotalcite and silver nanoparticles for deodorant formulation

• The preparation of ZnAl–AgNPs, based on AgNPs and ZnAl LDH, has been reported.
• ZnAl–AgNPs have been characterized by SEM, UV–Vis, XRD, and XRF analysis.
• The deodorant activity was investigated via HS-SPME-GC method.
• The deodorant activity is higher than commercial zinc ricinoleate.
• ZnAl–AgNPs show antibacterial activity towards gram-negative bacteria.

A simple method to prepare a hybrid material (ZnAl–AgNPs) based on silver nanoparticles and ZnAl layered double hydroxides (ZnAl LDHs), for possible use in a cosmetic formulation as deodorant, was reported. ZnAl–AgNPs, include the high adsorption capacity, the biocompatibility, the antacid properties of LDH and the antibacterial activity of AgNPs. According to the characterization with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was possible to confirm that interaction of AgNPs with ZnAl LDH occurs by adsorption rather than intercalation of AgNPs in LDH. The deodorant activity of ZnAl–AgNPs was tested using the headspace solid phase micro-extraction gas chromatography (HS-SPME-GC) and the antibacterial property was monitored on gram-negative bacteria. For comparison raw ZnAl LDH was also investigated. The results showed that both raw ZnAl LDH and ZnAl–AgNPs have deodorant activity higher than that of zinc ricinoleate, normally used in commercial formulations.