Preparation of Size‐Controlled Silver Nanoparticles and Chitin‐Based Composites and Their Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

A simple method for the preparation of size‐controlled spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was reported for their generation by autoclaving a mixture of silver‐containing glass powder and glucose. The particle size is regulated by the glucose concentration, with concentrations of 0.25, 1.0, and 4.0 wt% glucose providing small (3.48 ± 1.83 nm in diameter), medium (6.53 ± 1.78 nm), and large (12.9 ± 2.5 nm) particles, respectively. In this study, Ag NP/chitin composites were synthesized by mixing each of these three Ag NP suspensions with a <5% deacetylated (DAc) chitin powder (pH 7.0) at room temperature. The Ag NPs were homogenously dispersed and stably adsorbed onto the chitin. The Ag NP/chitin composites were obtained as yellow or brown powders. Approximately 5, 15, and 20 μ g of the small, medium, and large Ag NPs, respectively, were estimated to maximally adsorb onto 1 mg of chitin. The bactericidal and antifungal activities of the Ag NP/chitin composites increased as the amount of Ag NPs in the chitin increased. Furthermore, smaller Ag NPs (per weight) in the chitin composites provided higher bactericidal and anti‐fungal activities.