Radiation-chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution of chitin derivative
It has been demonstrated for the first time that in the process of gamma-induced reduction of Ag <sup>+</sup> in the water solution of biodegradable carboxymethyl chitin (CMC) polyelectrolyte a metal-polymer colloidal solution is formed, wherein the silver nanoparticles have a spherical shape and a size of about 1 - 5 nm. By using UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the influence of CMC concentration and radiation doses on the formation of clusters and silver nanoparticles in the metal-polymer colloidal solution has been observed. Silver nanoparticles colloidal solutions in CMC exhibit clear concentration- dependent bactericidal activity towards the strains of gram-positive Staphilococcus aureus as well as gram-negative Salmonella tythimurium bacteria.