A sweet killer: mesoporous polysaccharide confined silver nanoparticles for antibacterial applications

Robin J White, Vitaly L Budarin, James W B Moir, James H Clark

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) confined within porous starch have been prepared in a simple, green and efficient manner, utilising the nanoporous structure of predominantly mesoporous starch (MS) to act as nanoparticle stabiliser, support and reducing surface. MS/AgNP materials present high surface areas (S(BET) > 150 m(2) g(-1)) and mesopore volumes (V(meso) > 0.45 cm(3) g(-1)). The interaction of the AgNP precursor and forming nanoparticle nuclei with the mesoporous domains of the porous polysaccharide, direct porosity to increasingly narrower and more defined pore size distributions, indicative of a degree of cooperative assembly. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated the presence of spherical AgNP of a size reflective of the porous polysaccharide mesopore diameter (e.g., 5-25 nm), whilst XPS analysis confirmed the metallic Ag(0) state. Materials were prepared at relatively low Ag loadings (
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5782-96
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume12
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2011

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