Preparation of silver nanoparticle-coated calcium alginate fibers by hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)-mediated assembly and their antibacterial activity

A facile approach has been developed for preparing silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-coated calcium alginate fibers by hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) (HBPAA)-mediated assembly of AgNPs onto the surface of calcium alginate fibers in aqueous solution. Amino-functionalized AgNPs were synthesized in aqueous media using HBPAA as the reducing and capping agent. The assembly of AgNPs on calcium alginate fibers was realized through electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between calcium alginate fibers and HBPAA molecules capped on the surface of AgNPs. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterizations demonstrated that high density of metallic AgNPs were uniformly distributed on the fiber surface. The results of antibacterial tests indicated that the coated calcium alginate fibers exhibited high antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.