Properties of solutions and films of blends of water-soluble cellulose ethers with poviargol

Rheological properties of moderately concentrated aqueous solutions of blends of methyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose with Poviargol antiseptic (nanodispersed silver stabilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone) were studied. Composite films were prepared from solutions of the polymer blends, and the physicomechanical and thermomechanical properties of the films were examined. The region of thermodynamic compatibility of cellulose ethers with Poviargol was determined by the method based on sorption of solvent vapor.     

Nanocomposite films based on cellulose reinforced with nano-SiO2: microstructure, hydrophilicity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties

Microcrystalline cellulose/nano-SiO₂ composite films have been successfully prepared from solutions in ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride by a facile and economic method. The microstructure and properties were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, water contact angle, thermal gravimetric analyses, and tensile testing. The results revealed that the well-dispersed nanoparticles exhibit strong interfacial interactions with cellulose matrix. The thermal stability and tensile strength of the cellulose nanocomposite films were significantly improved over those of pure regenerated cellulose film. Furthermore, the cellulose nanocomposite films exhibited better hydrophobicity and a lower degree of swelling than pure cellulose. This method is believed to have potential application in the field of fabricating cellulose-based nanocomposite film with high performance, thus enlarging the scope of commercial application of cellulose-based materials.     

Formation of silver nanoparticles in aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose solutions and the evolution of their sizes

Size dependences of silver nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose solutions and dependences of their ζ-potentials on solution pH are studied by the dynamic light scattering method. Variations in nanoparticle size distributions and ζ-potential of particles with time are monitored. It is revealed that the size of silver nanoparticles decreases linearly with an increase in solution pH. The size of particles noticeably decreases in the aging process of the colloidal solution. The ζ-potential tends to one and the same value with time for all studied hydrosol samples.     

Properties of carboxymethyl cellulose aqueous solutions with nanoparticle additives and the related composite films

The rheological properties of carboxymethyl cellulose aqueous solutions containing small amounts of purified montmorillonite and bentonite nanoparticles are studied. The viscosity of mixed solutions decreases after addition of 1 wt % nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the films contain nanoparticles in the exfoliated state. An examination of the FTIR spectra of composite films suggests a shift in the absorption band due to Si-O groups. This phenomenon may be explained both by a change in the permittivity of the nanoparticle environment and by the formation of hydrogen bonds between Si-O groups and functional groups of cellulose ether. It is shown that the content of the added nanoparticles influences the mechanical characteristics of the films prepared from the systems of interest.     

Preparation and properties of cellulose/silver nanoparticle composites with in situ-generated silver nanoparticles using Ocimum sanctum leaf extract

In the present work, silver nanoparticles were in situ-generated in cellulose matrix using Ocimum sanctum leaf extract as a reducing agent. Regenerated wet cellulose films were first immersed in O. sanctum leaf extract and then it was allowed to diffuse into the films. The leaf extract–diffused wet films were dipped in different concentrated aq.AgNO₃ solutions. The leaf extract inside the wet films reduced AgNO₃ into nanosilver. The dry composite films were black in color. Some of the nanoparticles were also formed outside the film in the solution. The nanoparticles were viewed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy techniques. The composite films showed good antibacterial activity. The cellulose, matrix, and the composite films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. The tensile properties of the composite films were higher than those of the matrix. These biodegradable films can be used for packaging and medical purposes.     

Properties of films, solutions, and gels prepared from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose blends with synthetic polymers

An extremal dependence of the intrinsic viscosity of poly(vinyl alcohol) blends with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and polyacrylamide on composition has been established. A correlation between the viscosity properties of solutions and mechanical properties of films made of sodium carboxymethyl cellulosepoly(vinyl alcohol) blends is observed that is indicative of the interpolymer interaction in these systems. The obtained regularities can be used to produce high-modulus coordination-crosslinked gels based on these blends.     

Small-sized silver nanoparticles for studies of biological effects

The influence of the hydration extent, AOT and silver ion concentration on average particle size and size distribution in micellar solution of silver nanoparticles obtained by biochemical synthesis was investigated. Formation and stability of nanoparticles were controlled by measurements of optical absorption spectra. Particle sizes were determined by transmission electron microscopy. Combinations of varied parameters have been found, making it possible to prepare three micellar solutions of spherical silver nanoparticles with a different average size in the range 4.6–10.5 nm and narrow size distribution (the standard deviation does not exceed 2.5 nm). For the water dispersions prepared from such solutions by the specially developed procedure, possible applications for studies of size effects in the biological action of nanoparticles are also discussed.     

Production of Gold nanoparticles in aqueous solutions of cellulose derivatives

It is shown that gold nanoparticles can be produced using cellulose ethers, methylhydroxyethyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose as reducing agents that also play the role of nanoparticle stabilizers. Depending on the synthesis conditions, nanoparticle sizes vary in the range of 20–100 nm. The application of carboxymethyl cellulose as a stabilizer may give rise to the formation of a bimodal ensemble of nanoparticles with sizes of 4–5 and 30–40 nm. The differences in the mechanisms for the reduction and stabilization of gold nanoparticles in the presence of these cellulose derivatives are established by IR spectroscopy. The obtained colloidal dispersions of gold nanoparticles remain stable for a long time.     

Stabilization of silver nanoparticles with copolymers of maleic acid

Silver nanoparticles are obtained by reducing AgNO₃ with sodium borohydride in an aqueous solution in the presence of maleic acid copolymers with ethylene, N-vinylpyrrolidone, or styrene, as well as their octadecylamide group-containing hydrophobized derivatives, as dispersants. The influence of the structural features of the dicarboxylic acid copolymers on the silver nanoparticle formation process and the conditions for producing sols containing spherical nanoparticles with sizes of 1.5–3.5 nm (according to the data of transmission electron microscopy) are determined. It is shown that, at the equimolar copolymer/silver cation ratio, the morphology of resulting silver nanoparticles weakly depends on the nature of comonomers of maleic acid and the presence of hydrophobic fragments, which play an auxiliary role in the stabilization of dispersions of nanoparticles by increasing their stability with respect to ionic strength and oxidation. Evolution of the particle sizes in the system is monitored beginning with copolymer solutions to silver sols by the methods of light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. According to the light scattering data, copolymers and their complexes with silver ions in solutions are partly aggregated at concentrations corresponding to the conditions of nanosilver synthesis. Silver sols are shown to contain stabilized nanoparticles, which represent core-polyelectrolyte corona-type micelles and micellar clusters with polyelectrolyte coronas.     

Patterns of the adsorption of bovine serum albumin on carboxymethyl dextran and carboxymethyl cellulose films

Patterns of the adsorption of bovine serum albumin on carboxymethyl dextran and carboxymethyl cellulose films are studied by means of microcontact printing, atomic force microscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance. It is shown that both the charge of polysaccharide macromolecules and the technique for deposition of their films onto the surface (via adsorption from a solution or covalent cross-linking) are factors that determine the degree of nonspecific adsorption of the protein on such films.     

Modification of cellulose filter paper with bimetal nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of nitroaromatics in water

Cellulose - In this research work, we present a synthesis of silver and cobalt bimetal nanoparticles stabilized by a carboxymethyl cellulose biopolymer (CMC-AgCo) and its coating on a cellulose...     

Aqueous-organic phase-transfer of highly stable gold, silver, and platinum nanoparticles and new route for fabrication of gold nanofilms at the oil/water interface and on solid supports

A simple but effective aqueous-organic phase-transfer method for gold, silver, and platinum nanoparticles was developed on the basis of the decrease of the PVP's solubility in water with the temperature increase. The present method is superior in the transfer efficiency of highly stable nanoparticles to the common phase-transfer methods. The gold, silver, and platinum nanoparticles transferred to the 1-butanol phase dispersed well, especially silver and platinum particles almost kept the previous particle size. Electrochemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles in an oil-water system was achieved by controlling the reaction temperature at 80 degrees C, which provides great conveniences for collecting metal particles at the oil/water interface and especially for fabricating dense metal nanoparticle films. A technique to fabricate gold nanofilms on solid supports was also established. The shapes and sizes of gold nanoparticles as the building blocks may be controllable through changing reaction conditions.     

Plant system: Nature's nanofactory

Three categories of plants growing under three different extreme conditions were taken for assaying their promises to undertake nano-transformation. It was found that all of them successfully synthesize silver nanoparticles. The synthesis was performed akin to room temperature. X-ray and transmission electron microscopy analyses were performed to ascertain the formation of silver nanoparticles. X-ray analysis indicated that silver nanoparticles have FCC unit cell structure. Individual nanoparticles having the particle sizes of 2–5 nm were found. Possible involved mechanisms for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from above plant systems have also been proposed.     

Study of polyol synthesis reaction parameters controlling high yield of silver nanocubes

The influence of the parameters and conditions of sodium sulfide-induced reaction of polyol synthesis of silver nanoparticles on the yield of cube-shaped particles and the optical properties of colloids is studied. The protocol proposed by Skrabalak et al. for the synthesis of nanocubes in small volumes (Nature Protocols, 2007, vol. 2, p. 2182) is taken as an initial variant for optimization. The effects of the reagent concentrations, degree of ethylene glycol oxygenation, the presence of impurities, reaction time, and temperature are studied. Suspensions containing nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes, including polydisperse particles of irregular shapes, silver nanocubes with a yield of 0 to 97%, nanoprisms, and nanorods, can be produced by varying the synthesis parameters. The key parameters controlling the yield of nanocubes are the degree of ethylene glycol oxygenation and the presence of trace amounts of ions of other metals (not silver). It is established that variations in the reaction time make it possible to vary the sizes of nanocubes in the range of 30–60 nm. Suspensions with high contents of cube-shaped particles are shown to exhibit three maxima in the plasmon extinction resonance spectrum at wavelengths of 350, 390, and, depending on the particle size, 435–470 nm.     

Silver-carboxymethyl chitin nanocomposites

Nanocomposite macromolecular systems consisting of silver nanoparticles immobilized in a carboxymethyl chitin matrix are obtained. The method of ultrasonic treatment of a heterophase system (isooctane-water) in the presence of antioxidants of plant origin is used to transfer silver nanoparticles from their micellar solution in isooctane to an aqueous polymer solution. The formation of hydrogen bonds between the functional groups of carboxymethyl chitin and hydroxyl groups of antioxidants is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This interaction can provide additional stabilization of metal nanoparticles in the macromolecular system. The transmission electron microscopy data shows that the size of silver nanoparticles increases in a series of antioxidants (gallic acid, dihydroquercetin, and syringic acid). The increase is presumably caused by significant differences in the structures of these antioxidants and their interaction with the polymer matrix.     

Formation and morphological characteristics of selenium-containing nanostructures based on rigid-chain cellulose derivatives

Nanostructures arising from the reduction of ionic selenium by a selenite-ascorbate redox system in aqueous solutions of oxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose have been studied by using a set of optical methods (flow birefringence and static and dynamic light scattering) and viscometry. The adsorption of a substantial amount of macromolecules (up to 3200) on selenium nanoparticles has been experimentally discovered. This effect leads to the formation of superhigh-molecular-mass spherical nanostructures with a high density of the polymer shell. The thermodynamic state of solutions of nanostructures has been characterized. In the region of occurrence of stable dispersions, the values of the free energy of macromolecule-selenium nanoparticle interaction have been calculated for polymer nanostructures. Radii of amorphous selenium nanoparticles occurring in the nuclei of nanostructures and the thickness of the polymer shell have been estimated. Given the fixed molecular mass and comparable rigidity of a polymer matrix, the structure of the monomer unit of the cellulose derivative defines the morphology of the nanostructure being formed.     

Role of stabilizing agents in the formation of stable silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution: Characterization and stability study

The stability of silver nanoparticles is controlled mainly by two major factors, namely, aggregation and oxidation. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using different series of reducing agents like a strong reducing agent (sodium borohydride), a mild reducing agent (tri-sodium citrate), and a weak reducing agent (glucose) with different capping agents, namely, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K 30), starch, and sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (NaCMC). The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and anti-microbial activity. The particle size of silver nanoparticles varies in the following order: sodium borohydride < tri-sodium citrate < glucose. Combination of sodium borohydride–polyvinyl pyrrolidone and tri-sodium citrate-polyvinyl pyrrolidone yields stable silver nanoparticles compared to other combinations of reducing agents and capping agents. The stability results confirmed that a refrigerated condition (8°C) was more suitable for storage of silver nanoparticles. Anti-microbial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized in a sodium borohydride–polyvinyl pyrrolidone mixture shows a larger zone of inhibition compared to other silver nanoparticles. Anti-microbial results confirmed that the anti-microbial activity is better with smaller particle size. The size and stability of silver nanoparticles in the presence of different combinations of stabilizing and capping agents are reported.     

Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis of Non-Cytotoxic Silver Nanoparticles Using the Aqueous Extract of Rosa santana (rose) Petals and Their Antimicrobial Activity

Green methods using biological extracts, in particular plant-based solutions, have shown great potential for silver nanoparticle synthesis. A microwave-assisted single-step phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles is described in the present study. The aqueous extract obtained from the Rosa santana (rose) petals was used for the first time in the synthesis. The synthesized nanoparticles obtained after optimized microwave conditions for time and temperature were analyzed by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Zeta-size analysis. The results obtained from the characterization studies showed that the synthesized nanoparticles were nearly spherical in shape with sizes from 6.52?nm to 25.24?nm with an average particle size of 14.48?nm with a face-centered cubic structure. The antibacterial activities of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated and revealed that the silver nanoparticles displayed good inhibition against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Also, the cytotoxic effect of the silver nanoparticles on a mouse fibroblast cell line (L929) was studied by a cell viability assay. The results showed that phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles were nontoxic to the healthy normal cell line at all tested concentrations.     

Properties of solutions and films of blends of ethyl cellulose with polyvinylpyrrolidone and Poviargol

Viscosity properties of dilute and concentrated ethanol solutions of blends of ethyl cellulose with polyvinylpyrrolidone and Poviargol bactericidal formulation (silver metal nanoparticles stabilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone) were studied. The physicomechanical and thermomechanical properties of films prepared from solutions of the polymer blends were determined. Experiments on solvent vapor sorption showed that ethyl cellulose is incompatible with polyvinylpyrrolidone and Poviargol in the solid state in the entire composition range examined.     

Polyacrylamide/reduced graphene oxide-Ag nanocomposite as highly efficient antibacterial transparent film

In this study, preparation and characterization of polyacrylamide/reduced graphene oxide-Ag (PAM/rGO-Ag) nanocomposites as a new nanocomposite film were investigated. First, PAM/GO nanocomposite was synthesized by in situ polymerization strategy. Afterward, highly stable and uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been obtained with PAM/GO nanocomposite as nanoreactors via in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) as reducing agent. In addition, the prepared PAM/rGO-Ag nanocomposite was thermally annealed in order to achieve high-performance nanocomposite film with antimicrobial activities. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM and TGA. The obtained results demonstrate that the silver nanoparticles were well decorated and dispersed on the graphene oxide nanosheets. In fact, the GO nanosheets and polyacrylamide chains act as a support and stabilize the Ag nanoparticles. Moreover, antimicrobial activities of the films were also examined, and the films containing well-dispersed and stabilized Ag nanoparticles showed outstanding antibacterial activity.