Synthesis of antimicrobial silver/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite by gamma irradiation

•Silver/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites are synthesized through γ-irradiation method.•Ag/HA nanocomposites have good antibacterial properties.•Fabricated pure nanocomposites are suitable for medical and dental applications.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized through γ-irradiation reduction of silver ions into hydroxyapatite as a solid support. The formation of AgNPs incorporated in the hydroxyapatite composite was studied as a function of γ-irradiation doses. The X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements showed the fabrication of face-centered cubic AgNPs with a mean diameter of about 39 nm at 20 kGy absorbed dose. When the absorbed dose increases from 20 to 40 kGy the size of AgNPs particles partially increases, while with increasing absorbed dose from 40 to 60 kGy the particle diameters decreases. In addition, the results of XRD analysis indicated that increasing of γ-irradiation doses from 20 to 40 kGy enhances the concentration of AgNPs, without inducing significant changes in degree of HA crystallinity. The antibacterial test study of samples against Escherichia coli indicated a significant enhancement in the antibacterial property of Ag/HA nanocomposites.