Embedded Ag NPs in CysteinePoly (acrylic acid) Hydrogel with Antibacterial Activity

In this research,Ag NPs were loaded on cysteine modified poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hydrogel. Obtainedcysteinehydrogel (Chydrogel) having different functional groups could stabilize Ag NPs better than unmodified hydrogel due to the presence of disulfid bondings. First, obtained PAA hydrogel from radical polymerization was conjugated with cysteinehydrochloride (Cys) through amidation reaction and then was used as a substrate and stabilization reagent for Ag ions. Ag ions were reduced on Chydrogel in the presence ofNaBH4 as reducing reagent. The resultant nanocomposite was well characterized by using UV–vis, FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques. Furthermore, the resultant Ag NPs on the surface of Chydrogel showedhigh antibacterial behavior against Gramnegative E. coliand Grampositive S. aureusdue to the high reaction of thiolfunctions with the outer cell surface.