Synthesis, morphological, characterization and evaluation of antibacterial effects of Silver-Polyaniline nanocomposites against Escherichia coli

Silver-Polyaniline (Ag-PANI) nanocomposites were prepared by in-situ oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) solution as an emulsifier. The synthesis of Silver-Polyaniline nanocomposites was investigated as a function of several parameters such as aniline concentration, concentration of emulsifier (AOT), concentration of oxidation agent and concentration of silver nitrate. The formation of Ag-PANI nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in each stage of controlled parameters. The particle size of PANI was increased from 43 nm to 56 nm with decrease in aniline concentration. Moreover the particle size of silver nanocomposites decreased with increasing oxidation agent concentration. In addition, the nanoparticle size was raised with decrease of AOT concentration. Also, when the concentration of silver nitrate was decreased, the particle size of nanocomposites was decreased too. In vitro antibacterial tests were performed using Escherichia coli (E. coli) to determine the antibacterial capability of the Ag-Polyaniline nanocomposites.