Preparation of silver nanoparticle-containing semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels composed of pluronic and poly(acrylamide) with antibacterial property

In this investigation, we prepared semi-interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogels composed of pluronic and poly(acrylamide), using free radical polymerization with a redox initiator system in the presence of N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide. The hydrogels served as templates for producing highly stable and uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles via in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as reducing agent. We confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles using ultraviolet visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Stability and morphology of the nanoparticles was examined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, we demonstrated the presence of antibacterial activity in the developed hydrogel–silver nanocomposite.