Chitosan-based stabilizers for aqueous silver nanoparticles solution: Synthesis and characterization

This study presents an eco-friendly method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using water-soluble chitosan (WSC) as a stabilizer and γ-irradiation as a reducing agent. WSC was prepared via acetylation (acetylation time ≈ 2 h), resulting in excellent solubility across a broad pH range (3–12). AgNPs ranging from 3.8 to 7.9 nm were synthesized by irradiating WSC-containing Ag+ solutions, with nanoparticle size influenced by Ag+ concentration and γ-irradiation dose. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results confirmed the formation of uniform, highly pure nanoparticles with controllable size. This approach eliminates the need for toxic chemicals and enables stable aqueous colloids. WSC not only stabilized the AgNPs but also contributed to their purity and long-term stability. Thereby, this study introduces a green and efficient strategy for preparing AgNP colloids, with potential applications in biomedicine and environmental nanotechnology.