LAUSR

ABSTRACT Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various fields but their physical and chemical instability have limited their applications. The present work demonstrates a novel approach for the synthesis and stabilising of AgNPs. Chitosan and carboxymethyl β-cyclodextrin were used to prepare a polymeric hydrogel with glutaraldehyde as cross-linker. As a result, AgNPs were formed with very high dispersion and stability in the hydrogel structure. It is possible to create nanoreactors to produce AgNPs by adding CM-βCD to the structure of the hydrogel. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was employed to characterise the Cs-CM-βCD hydrogel. The morphologies of pure Cs-CM-βCD hydrogel and silver nanocomposite were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, UV–VIS spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterise the prepared silver nanocomposite. In addition, the antibacterial properties of these silver nanocomposite hydrogels were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram negative).