Preparation and characterization of bio-nanocomposite films of agar and silver nanoparticles: Laser ablation method

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2014-03, Vol.103, p.456-465
• Main Authors: Rhim, Jong-Whan, Wang, Long-Feng, Lee, Yonghoon, Hong, Seok-In
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agar; Agar - chemistry; Agar - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial activity; Applied sciences; Bio-nanocomposites; Composites; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Escherichia coli O157 - drug effects; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Laser ablation; Lasers; Listeria monocytogenes - drug effects; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Silver - chemistry; Silver - pharmacology; Silver nanoparticles; Structure-Activity Relationship; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.12.075

•Agar/AgNPs nanocomposite films were prepared by a laser ablation method.•The composite films exhibited characteristic plasmonic effect of AgNPs.•They had good mechanical, gas barrier, and thermal stability properties.•They had strong antimicrobial activity against both Gram+ and Gram− bacteria.•They have a high potential for the application as an active food packaging film. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by a laser ablation method and composite films with the AgNPs and agar were prepared by solvent casting method. UV–vis absorbance test and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis results revealed that non-agglomerated spherical AgNPs were formed by the laser ablation method. The surface color of the resulting agar/AgNPs films exhibited the characteristic plasmonic effect of the AgNPs with the maximum absorption peaks of 400–407nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) test results also exhibited characteristic AgNPs crystals with diffraction peaks observed at 2θ values of 38.39°, 44.49°, and 64.45°, which were corresponding to (111), (200), and (220) crystallographic planes of face-centered cubic (fcc) silver crystals, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that thermal stability of the agar/AgNPs composite films was increased by the inclusion of metallic silver. Water vapor barrier properties and surface hydrophobicity of the agar/AgNPs films increased slightly with the increase in AgNPs content but they were not statistically significant (p>0.05), while mechanical strength and stiffness of the composite films decreased slightly (p