Activity of Antimicrobial Silver Polystyrene Nanocomposites.

A simple technique based on doping polymers within situgenerated silver nanoparticles (Ag/PS films) has been developed. In particular, an antiseptic material has been prepared by dissolving silver 1,5-cyclooctadiene-hexafluoroacetylacetonate in amorphous polystyrene, and the obtained solid solution has been heated for ca. 10 s at a convenient temperature (180°C). Under such conditions the metal precursor decomposes producing silver atoms that diffuse into the polymer and clusterize. The antimicrobial characteristics of the resulting polystyrene-based material have been accurately evaluated towardEscherichia coli (E. coli)comparing the cytotoxicity effect of 10 wt.% and 30 wt.% (drastic and …