Preparation of oligochitosan stabilized silver nanoparticles by gamma irradiation

Size tunable and biocompatible silver nanoparticles were prepared by γγ irradiation using oligochitosan [(GlcN)x][(GlcN)x] as stabilizer, the average particle size was between 5 and 15 nm. Owing to the protonation of the (GlcN)x(GlcN)x shell, the silver nanoparticles were stable at pH between 1.8–9.0, as characterized by zeta potential measurements and transmission electron micrography (TEM). The nanoparticles are stable in NaCl solution; but NaNO3 or NaH2PO4 cause their aggregation.