A simple and 'green' synthesis of polymer-based silver colloids and their antibacterial properties.

Stable silver colloids were prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an environment friendly reduction agent and stabilizer, and with H2O as solvent. The Ag colloids were characterized by UV/VIS spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atom force microscopy (AFM). TEM and AFM of the sample showed uniform and monodispersive particle distribution in the colloids. The particle size is found to be less than 10 nm. The antibacterial activity of the Ag colloids was also studied. The results showed that the sample had high antibacterial activity toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.