ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SILVER NANO PARTICLES (AG-NPS) ON BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM DIABETIC FEET

Background: Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPS) have long been known to have powerful antimicrobial activities. The aim of this study: to synthesize of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPS) in chitosan composite for possible use in biological application. Objective: Chitosan – silver nanoparticles composite materials was synthesized by adding AgNo3 0.5 gm and NaOH solution to chitosan solution at 120 c. Different concentrations of chitosan 0.05 % - 0.125 % - 0.25 % - 0.5 % were used for synthesis. Chitosan – silver nanoparticle composite materials were characterized by Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV), particles size and zeta potential (NCS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Bacteria isolated from diabetic feet were used to test the bactericidal efficiency of synthesized chitosan – silver nanoparticles composite materials. Results: The bacteriological tests showed either bacterial growth inhibition or cell death occurred depending on the concentration of chitosan used. Antibacterial effect of chitosan – silver nanoparticles composite materials increased by increasing chitosan concentration. Conclusion: The presence of Ag- nanoparticles in different concentrations of chitosan composite was enough to significantly enhance antibacterial activity.