A versatile strategy to fabricate hydrogel–silver nanocomposites and investigation of their antimicrobial activity

In this study, hydrogel–silver nanocomposites have been synthesized by a unique methodology, which involves formation of silver nanoparticles within swollen poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) which was obtained at 406 nm. The TEM of hydrogel–silver nanocomposites showed almost uniform distribution of nanoparticles throughout the gel networks. Most of the particles, as revealed from the particle-size distribution curve, were 24–30 nm in size. The X-ray diffraction pattern also confirmed the face centered cubic (fcc) structure of silver nanoparticles. The nanocomposites demonstrated excellent antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli (E. coli). The antibacterial activity depended on size of the nanocomposites, amount of silver nanoparticles, and amount of monomer acid present within the hydrogel–silver nanocomposites. It was also found that immersion of plain hydrogel in 20 mg/30 ml AgNO3 solution yielded nanocomparticle–hydrogel composites with optimum bactericidal activity.

Graphical abstractWe designed a facile in situ methodology for hydrogel–silver nanocomposites in which the formation of silver nanoparticles was found to be throughout the gel networks. The formed nanoparticles in the gel are 24–30 nm in size. The formation of nanosilver particles was confirmed by spectral and electronic microscopic techniques. The developed hydrogel–silver nanocomposites demonstrated excellent antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide