Synthesis, Antimicrobial Properties, and Toxicity of a Nanobiocomposite Based on Ag(0) Particles and Poly(1-Vinyl-1,2,4-Triazole)

The synthesis of a water-soluble polymer nanocomposite with Ag(0) particles encapsulated in a poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) matrix is reported. The nanocomposite contains isolated spherical Ag(0) particles sized from 2 to 8 nm that are uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix and have a characteristic plasmonic absorption maximum at 412 nm. The new nanocomposite belongs to marginally hazardous category 4. The structural morphology of animal brain tissue is not disturbed after subacute intragastric injection. The bacteriostatic concentration of the nanocomposite varies in the range 0.5 – 32 μg/mL; bactericidal, 1 – 64 μg/mL.