Influence of gelling agents on morphological properties of silver nanoparticles in the developed composition

Abstract

The paper evaluates the morphofunctional properties of silver nanoparticles in gel compositions using either sodium alginate or gelatin as a gelling agent. It is shown that gelatin in the concentration of 0.9%, enables the composition to incorporate a significant amount of the most functional silver nanoparticles, ranging in size from 1 to 15 nm (76.2%). In contrast, at 0.9% of sodium alginate, a substantial (over 50%) content of nanoclusters ranging in size from 41 to 100 nm, is observed on SEM images. This suggests the need to reduce the concentration of this gelling agent to form the basis for hydrogel wound dressings. In this case, it is necessary to account for the material properties (density, extensibility, and absorption capacity of wound exudate) and the kind of application of the end product containing silver nanoparticles, e.g., the wound process stage.