N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers decorated with silver nanoparticles for biomedical applications

New silver nanocomposites (AgNCs) based on copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with N,N-diallyl-N-acetylhydrazine, poly (VP-DAAH), and 3-methacryloxytetrahydrothiophenedioxide-1,1, poly (VP-MTT), have been developed. The reduction of silver ions into silver nanoparticles was achieved using NaBH4 as reducing agent. UV-spectroscopy, an atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the formation of silver nanoparticles in copolymers. The average silver particle size ranged from 12 to 13nm, with the corresponding UV-vis absorption peak position at 400 to 410nm. The AgNCs have exhibited significant cytotoxic activity towards rhabdomyosarcoma and melanoma line cells. The AgNC based on poly (VP-MTT) completely inhibited bacterial growth, including both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.