Solution plasma mediated synthesis of antibacterial nanobiocomposites using carboxymethyl cellulose and silver as electrodes

In this study, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biocomposites were synthesized using a solution plasma process (SPP). The utilization of AgNO3 as a precursor, along with tungsten electrodes, introduces significant impurities into the biocomposites. Therefore, to ensure purity, we employed silver electrodes in the production of biocomposites. The SPP involved discharging plasma at 800 V, 30 kHz for 7 min in CMC solutions with concentrations of 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0%. The UV-Vis spectroscopy results revealed a peak near 400 nm, and the intensity of the peak increased as the CMC concentration decreased. The biocomposites had no change in the chemical structure during SPP. Porous matrix with fringed edges and spherical AgNP was observed by SEM/EDS and TEM analysis. The average particle size and the zeta potential of CMC/ AgNPs determined by DLS analysis were 3.1 +/- 0.1 nm and -41.8 +/- 0.9 mV, respectively. The CMC/AgNP (0.3%, 7 min) exhibited growth inhibition zones ranging from 9.8 to 17.2 mm. The minimal inhibitory concentrations for Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and yeast were found to be in the ranges of 33.9-50.9, 102 and 338 mu g mL-1, respectively. These results demonstrate that biocomposites of CMC/AgNPs, synthesized using silver electrodes within a CMC matrix, exhibit efficient antimicrobial properties, indicating their potential for sustainable utilization as polymer-based materials for wound healing.