Preparation and characterization of silver nanoparticle-containing semi-interpenetrating network poly(acrylic amide)/poly(aspartic acid) hydrogels for antibacterial applications

Hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic polymer networks, that are able to swell when added to water or biochemical fluid.Interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPN) a new class of polymeric hydrogels provide great opportunity due to the additive effect of the polymers within the multicomponent polymeric system [1,2]. Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)-based hydrogels can act as excellent nanoreactors for producingnanoparticles [3]. In the present study, we report for the first timeinterpenetrating polymer networks (IPN),based on polymer polyaspartic acid (PASP)-graphenehydrogel, into the poly(acrylamide) (PAm).This hydrogelserved as templates for producing stable silver nanoparticles (NPs) via in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as reducing agent.The chemical structures of IPN hydrogel–silver nanocomposites were characterizedby using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, antibacterial ability and swelling properties of this hydrogelswerealso assessed.