Optimization of the electrochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles in poly(vinyl alcohol) colloid solutions

Abstract

This work focuses on the optimization of electrochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles in poly(vinyl alcohol) colloid solutions, films and hydrogel discs with the ability for immobilization of silver nanoparticles and their progressive release, as a new, prospective generation of medical wound dressings. Incorporation of silver nanoparticles into polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl alcohol/graphene matrices, with the aim to determine the effect of silver and graphene, was achieved by the electrochemical synthesis at different values of constant current density between 10 and 40 mA cm(-2) and for different time between 10 and 75 min, followed by drying (to obtain films) or freezing-thawing method (to obtain hydrogels). Synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Additionally, antibacterial activity of thus prepared samples was evaluated against pathogenic bacteria strains Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using agar diffusion test. The results indicated that both silver/polyvinyl alcohol and silver polyvinyl alcohol/graphene nanocomposites are excellent candidates for soft tissue implants and wound dressings.