Preparation and characterization of antibacterial polymer composites based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and nanoparticulate silver.

Polymer composite materials with antibacterial properties based on poly(vinyl alcohol), which contain fine biocompatible mineral fillers and silver nanoparticles have been obtained. The method of preparation of polyacrylamide stabilized silver nanoparticles with shape of thin truncated triangular prisms has been developed. An approach to enhance adsorption capacity of the fillers to nanoparticulate silver was proposed. Studying bactericidal activity of obtained materials on model microorganisms (Escherichia coli) shown the high activity of the composites containing silver nanoparticles at the concentration of ≥ 0,018 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]