From silver nanoparticles to nanostructures through matrix chemistry

9 páginas, 5 figuras.Direct in situ reduction of silver ions by a biopolymer such as agar, without any other reducing nor capping agent is shown in this article to lead either to nanoparticles (typically 12(2) nm in an optimized case) or to more complex nanostructures depending on the reaction conditions used. This approach takes advantage of the porous polymer lattice acting as a template and leads to hybrid Ag–Agar materials with long-term synergic stability. Silver acts as an antibacterial agent for agar whereas the biopolymer prevents agglomeration of the inorganic nanoparticles leading to a stable nanocomposite formed by a thermoreversible biopolymer from which silver nanoparticles can eventually be recovered.Funding for this research was possible by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) (CTQ2008-06779-C02-01). We thank CSIC and the European Social Fund for financing through the I3P program (DMR); OA gratefully acknowledges earlier financial support from The Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education (Saudi Committee for the Relief of the Palestinian People) and a loan from Al-Quds University (Jerusalem, Palestine).Peer reviewe