A novel, and green one-pot method was developed to synthesize composite containing cellulose (CEL), keratin (KER) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). A simple ionic liquid, butylmethylimmidazolium chloride (BMIm+Cl-), was used as the sole solvent and silver chloride was added to a [BMIm+Cl-] solution containing [CEL+KER] during the dissolution process. Extract of watermelon rind (WR), used as a green reducing reagent, was carried out in a hydrothermal vessel at 200°C for 72 hrs. Ag+ encapsulated in the [CEL+KER] composite was reduced by the extract to Ag0NPs directly in the composite. The [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs]WR composite obtained was found to have the same structure as [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs]NaBH4 composite which had the same composition and Ag+ concentration but was reduced by NaBH4. The size of Ag0NPs in [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs]WR was 22 nm, approximately 2.4 times larger than the 9-nm Ag0NPs in [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs]NaBH4. Both composites exhibited antimicrobial activity against a wide range of resistant bacteria and fungi including methicillin-resistant S. aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococus and Candida albicans. Interestingly, growth reduction of several organisms by [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs]WR composite was relatively higher than that by [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs]NaBH4 composite. Together, these data show that sustainable and biocompatible nanoparticle composites containing CEL, KER and Ag0NPs, which have excellent antimicrobial activity, can be synthesized in a totally green and facile method.

Total green synthesis of silver nanoparticle composites

255th National Meeting (2018)

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