LAUSR

Abstract In this study, alternan isolated from Lactobacillus reuteri E81 was used as the stabilising agent to produce alternan-stabilised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-Alt) and AgNPs-Alt were characterized and their antibacterial and antifungal activities were tested. The formation and the stability of AgNPs-Alt were determined by UV–vis spectroscopy analysis. SEM and TEM analysis revealed the uniform morphology of AgNPs-Alt with an average size of ~50 nm. The crystalline nature of the AgNPs-Alt was confirmed by XRD analysis. The interactions of alternan functional groups with silver was observed by FTIR analysis and thermal characteristics of AgNPs-Alt were determined by DSC analysis. Finally, the antibacterial and the antifungal activities of AgNPs-Alt were tested and AgNPs-Alt revealed inhibitory effects to pathogenic strains at 0.25 mg ml−1 concentration and this activity was observed to be concentration dependent. For the antifungal activity, a higher level of AgNPs-Alt was required compared to the antibacterial activity.