Is a cationic-resin-loaded polymeric gel a better antibacterial material than a nanosilver-loaded gel?

Abstract

In this study, cationic-resin (Seralite SRC-120)-loaded poly(acrylamide) gels have been prepared by potassium-persulphate-initiated free radical polymerization of acrylamide in the presence of resin particles using methylene bisacrylamide as cross-linker. The resin-loaded hydrogel exhibited minimum swelling of 140%, while the maximum water uptake of 410% was found in plain poly(acrylamide) gels. The resinloaded gel has been investigated for its antibacterial action against Escherichia coli using the zone inhibition method. In order to establish the superiority of the polymer, silver-nanoparticles- loaded gels were also prepared by equilibration of plain hydrogels in silver nitrate solution followed by trisodium citrate reduction. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD, SAED and TEM analysis, the average size of particles being in the range of 24-30 nm. However, the resin-loaded hydrogel was found to demonstrate greater inhibitory action against E. coli as compared to the silver-nanoparticles-loaded hydrogel. Therefore, the cationic-resin-loaded polymer appears to be more effective and economic than the silver-nanoparticles-loaded polymer materials and may be used to fabricate antibacterial polymeric material on an industrial basis. © 2010 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden.