Antibacterial silver nanoparticles in polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate blend produced by gamma irradiation

Polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate/nano silver (PVA/SA/Ag) composite films were made by solution casting method. Gamma irradiation was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles in situ via reduction of silver nitrate without using harmful chemical agents for biomedical applications. UV-vis and XRD results demonstrated that spherical silver nanoparticles were produced even at low irradiation dose of 5 kGy. By increasing irradiation dose, more nanoparticles were synthesized while no PVA hydrogel was formed up to 15 kGy. Also the size of nanoparticles was reduced with increasing gamma dose evidenced by higher release rate of silver nanoparticles in lukewarm water and SEM images. Comparing SEM images with DLS results indicated good performance of PVA/SA as an efficient stabilizer in preventing agglomeration of the silver nanoparticles. Good miscibility of polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate observed on the SEM images was supported with FTIR spectroscopy. Upon addition of sodium alginate to polyvinyl alcohol and increasing silver nanoparticles, the melting peak shifted to lower temperature and crystallinity percent was decreased. Addition of sodium alginate led to remarkable increase in rigidity of PVA. The composites exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli even at very low level of silver nanoparticles.