Search

Using mulberry silkworm pupae as an alternative source of renewable raw materials, a water-soluble Bombyx mori chitosan derivative N-carboxymethylchitosan is synthesized. A method for the photochemical reduction of silver ions into silver nanoparticles in an N-carboxymethylchitosan matrix is developed. The presence of silver nanoparticles in a colloidal solution is confirmed by UV spectroscopy, and their shape and size are determined by transmission electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and green chemical method has been developed to synthesize stable bare and capped silver nanoparticles based on the reduction of silver ions by glucose and capping by poly(α,γ, l-glutamic acid) (PGA). The use of ammonia during synthesis was avoided. PGA has had a dual role in the synthesis and was used as a capping agent to make the silver nanoparticle more biocompatible and to protect the nanoparticles from agglomerating in the liquid medium. The synthesized PGA-capped silver nanoparticles in the size range 5-45 nm were stable over long periods of time, without signs of precipitation. Morphological examination has shown that the silver nanoparticles had a nearly spherical, multiply twinned structure. The effects of the reaction temperature and the reaction time during the synthesis were investigated too. The biocompatibility of the PGA-capped silver nanoparticles is discussed in terms of in vitro toxicity with human intestinal Caco-2 cells. The samples were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]