Oligomer-stabilized silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial coatings for plastics

TOVAR, GABRIEL I.; VILLANUEVA, M. EMILIA; COPELLO, GUILLERMO J.; GHIBAUDO, M. FLORENCIA; CAMPO DALL? ORTO, VIVIANA

Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects

Elsevier

Año: 2020 vol. 24 p. 100610 - 100610

2352-507X

The development of composite materials consisting of metal nanoparticles embedded in macromolecular compounds, obtained via in-situ reduction process has attracted research interest. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized by a one-step method at 25 °C, that involves photo-reduction of AgNO3 dissolved in a solution of oligomers which promoted Ag generation. These highly functionalized oligomers, obtained from ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), imidazole and methacrylic acid, were tested as reagents in photo-reduction/NP stabilization. Their functional groups acted as ligands on coordinating and then stabilizing AgNPs, being particularly involved ether function of EGDE, according to DLS and FT-IR evidence. These organic macromolecules strongly promoted the adherence of AgNP-oligomers structures to polystyrene substrate. The composite materials were further characterized by UV?visible spectroscopy, electrochemical methods, SEM and TEM. The antimicrobial activity of the polystyrene surface modified with AgNP-oligomers was studied, concluding that it had biocidal activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.