Author : Zainab Sabeeh Sadik, Dunya Fareed Salloom, Sarmed Salih Mahdi and Enas Diaa Salah Alden

This study developed a rapid, eco-friendly and convenient green method for the biosynthesize of stable silver nanoparticles have been prepared by hot chemical reduction method with using agar as a biopolymer matrix and a capping (reduction) agent to get a Ag – agar hybrid NP (hybrid core / shall NP). We prepared the stable Ag NPs by using high concentration agar gel which prepare from simple hydrothermal method to provide conditions for the preparation of gels of greater homogeneity than conventional methods. The resulting Ag NPs/agar composite films had homogeneous distribution of Ag NPs in the polymer matrix, and their properties were affected by the content of silver nanoparticles added. Characterization of silver nanoparticles was carried out based on UV–Vis, SEM, EDX and FTIR analysis. The SEM suggests that the silver nanoparticles synthesized are spherical in shape, having average mean size of 14.06-15.95 nm depending on the concentration of Ag NPs .The antibacterial activity of biologically synthesized silver NPs was evaluated against E coil showing increasing the effective bactericidal activity with increase the Ag NP concentration.

Keywords: Silver nanoparticles, Agar, Antimicrobial activity, Hydrothermal process, biopolymer matix.

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.5, No.2 (April-2015)