In situ synthesis of high swell ratio polyacrylic acid/silver nanocomposite hydrogels and their antimicrobial properties

Abstract Silver nanocomposites embedded within a polymer matrix have attracted attention in recent years. Ionic polymer hydrogels comprise networks of chemically or physically cross-linked polymers that swell considerably in an appropriate solvent. In this study, we used a solution of the carboxylic monomer acrylic acid and silver nitrate to prepare nanocomposite hydrogels through ultraviolet (UV)-light irradiation. Silver-impregnated biomaterial composed of acrylic acid contains only a monomer and no cross-linker. The formation of hydrogels and reduction of silver nanoparticles were affected by the preparation parameters, that is, the monomer concentration and silver nitrate concentration. The morphology, structure, and size of the silver nanocomposite hydrogels were evaluated through field emission scanning electron microscopy and UV–visible absorption. The antimicrobial activity of the samples was tested against fourstandard strains Candida albicans , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Escherichia coli ; and five clinical bacterial isolates Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Acinetobacter baumannii , Klebsiella pneumonia . The silver nanocomposite hydrogels exhibited an interconnected porous structure and could absorb 400 to 550 g of deionized water per gram of dried hydrogel. Moreover, these hydrogels produced a strong antibacterial effect, which can be useful in developing new superabsorbent antimicrobial pharmaceutical products.