Synthesis and characterization of copolymeric and terpolymeric hydrogel-silver nanocomposites based on acrylic acid, acrylamide and itaconic acid: Investigation of their antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria

Abstract

In this study, copolymeric and terpolymeric hydrogel-silver nanocomposites based on poly(acrylamideco- itaconic acid), poly(acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid) and poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) were synthesized by free-radical polymerization. These nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Visible Spectrophotometry (UVVis) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, as well as their swelling behaviors. In addition, antibacterial properties of these hydrogel-silver nanocomposites were investigated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Acrylic-based hydrogel-silver nanocomposites demonstrated antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. These hydrogel-silver nanocomposites can be used as antibacterial material in the medical field.