Preparation and antibacterial activity of polyvinyl alcohol/regenerated silk fibroin composite fibers containing Ag nanoparticles
(20–25)Journal of Applied Polymer  Science 123 #1 (2012)
Li et al of Soochow University, China, showed that nanoparticles containing Ag were present both in blend solution and in composite nanofibers after heat treatment and after subsequent UV irradiation.  By annealing the nanofibers, Ag+ therein was reduced so as to produce nanoparticles containing silver.  By combining heat treatment with UV irradiation, Ag+ was transformed into Ag clusters and further oxidized into Ag3O4 and Ag2O2. Especially size of the nanoparticles increased with heat treatment and subsequent UV irradiation. This indicated that the nanoparticles containing silver could be regulated by heat treatment and UV irradiation.   The resultant nanofibers showed very strong antimicrobial activity. 

Study of mechanism of enhanced antibacterial activity by green synthesis of silver nanoparticles
(#415104 ) Nanotechnology 22 #41 (2011)
Abstract
Muench et al of the Technische Universität Darmstad, Germany, developed an electroless plating procedure for the controlled synthesis of nanoscale silver thin films and derived structures such as silver nanotubes.  The refined electroless deposition allows the fabrication of homogeneous high aspect-ratio nanotubes in ion track etched polycarbonate.  Template-embedded metal nanotubes can be interpreted as parallelled microreactors.  Following this concept, both the silver nanotubes and spongy gold nanotubes obtained by the use of the silver structures as sacrificial templates were applied in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride, proving to be extraordinarily effective catalysts.  (RDC 9/15/2011)

Durable antibacterial Ag/polyacrylonitrile (Ag/PAN) hybrid nanofibers prepared by atmospheric plasma treatment and electrospinning
( 1402-1409) European Polymer Journal 47  #7 (2011)
Shi et of North Carolina State University, North Carolina, prepared durable antibacterial Ag/polyacrylonitrile (Ag/PAN) hybrid nanofibers by atmospheric plasma treatment and electrospinning.  Atmospheric helium plasma treatment was first used to reduce the AgNO3 precursor in pre-electrospinning solutions into metallic silver nanoparticles, followed by electrospinning into continuous and smooth nanofibers with Ag nanoparticles embedded in the matrix. Silver nanoparticles, with diameters ranging between 3 and 6 nm, were found to be uniformly dispersed in the nanofiber matrix. The Ag/PAN nanofibers exhibited slow and long-lasting silver ion release, which provided robust antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Bacillus cereus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli microorganisms.  (RDC 6/27/2011)

An Approach to Create Silver Containing Antibacterial Coatings by Use of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Chemical Vapour Deposition (APCVD) and Combustion Chemical Vapour Deposition (CCVD) in an Economic Way
(295–304)Plasma Processes and Polymers 8 #4  (2011)
Zimmermann et al of INNOVENT, Germany, produced. SiOx-layers  by use of a hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) precursor in combination with silver nitrate solution and silver nanoparticles as additives.  A strong antibacterial effect of the APCVD and CCVD coated samples on an Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain could be shown. Layers obtained by CCVD showed a longer-lasting antibacterial activity. (RDC 5/31/2011)

PACKAGING MATERIALS MANUFACTURED FROM NATURAL POLYMERS MODIFIED WITH SILVER NANOPARTICLES
(T/59-T/64) International Polymer Science and Technology 37, #10 (2010)
Fedotova et al found that the treatment of films in a silver solution led to a change in structure, with ordering and compaction of microfibres. It was shown that the new materials, having fairly high bactericidal properties against different types of microorganism, were non-toxic and risk-free to humans and the environment. They were thus suitable for use in the manufacture of food packaging and as sausage casings.  (RDC 2/18/2011)

In situ production of silver nanoparticle on cotton fabric and its antimicrobial evaluation
 (75-82) Cellulose 18 #1 (2011)
El-Shishtawy, Asiri, Nayera, Abdelwahed and Al-Otaibi  of Saudi Arabia and Eygpt  showed that the presence of a low coating level of nanosilver is enough for producing an excellent and durable antimicrobial cotton fabrics.  (RDC 2/11/2011)

Preparation of antimicrobial polycaprolactone-silica composite films with nanosilver rods and triclosan using roll-milling method
(232–236)Polymers for Advanced Technologies 22 #2 (2011)
Olgun, Tunç and Özaslan of the Sakarya University, Turkey prepared antimicrobial polycaprolactone composite films containing 12.5% silica and 0.15% silver nanorods by the roll-milling method. The destruction of E. coli and S. aureus on the surface of the composite films was evaluated after 6 hr of incubation at 37°C. For the E. Coli, no bacterial contamination was detected after 6 hr and the film surface was completely disinfected with 100% reduction of the microbial contamination.. The results demonstrated that the use of silver nanoparticles in the biopolymer industry has huge potential for the self-cleaning applications.  (RDC 2/4/2011)

Bio-based thermostable, biodegradable and biocompatible hyperbranched polyurethane/Ag nanocomposites with antimicrobial activity 
(1509-1517) Polymer Degradation and Stability 95 #9 (2010)
Deka et al of Tezpur University, India prepared seed oil based antimicrobial biocompatible hyperbranched and linear polyurethane/Ag nanocomposites in dimethylformamide without using any extra reducing agent.  Formation of the stable and well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles was confirmed by ultra violet, X-ray diffractometeric, transmission electron microscopic and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopic analyses.  The nanocomposites showed biodegradability as conferred from the bacterial degradation. (RDC 12/10/2010)

Preparation and Characterization of Antibacterial Ag2O-Coated HDPE Films Obtained by Vacuum Evaporation Technique
(725 – 730) Polymer - Plastics Technology and Engineering 49 #7 (2010)
Li and Li from China have deposited Ag2O on HDPE films pretreated with ion bombardment. The coating was continuous and 17.2 nm thick.  The coated films showed strong antibacterial activity for both gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) and gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus). (RDC 11/6/2010)

The Preparation of Polymer/Silver Nanocomposites and Application as an Antibacterial Material
(1329 – 1333) Polymer - Plastics Technology and Engineering 49 #13 (2010)
Singh; Patankar and Gupta from India prepared the nanocomposites by transferring nano-silver particles to a poly(methyl acrylate) solution in chloroform using phase transfer methodology. The solution was coated onto a glass substrate providing a uniform film of antibacterial PMA/silver nanocomposite. (RDC 11/6/2010)

Properties and antimicrobial efficacy of cellulose fiber coated with silver nanoparticles and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-MPTMS)
(2261–2267) Journal of Applied Polymer Science 119 #4 (2010)
Kim, Park,and Lee of Yeungnam University and Kolon Industries, South Korea, coated silver particles onto cotton fabrics by soaking the fabrics in 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane/silver colloid solution at 43°C for 90 minutes.  (RDC 11/10/2010)

Development of Silver−Zein Composites as a Promising Antimicrobial Agent
(2366–2375) Biomacromolecules 11 #9 (2010)

Immobilization of silver nanoparticles onto sulfonated polyethersulfone membranes as antibacterial materials  
(555-562) Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 81 #2 (2010)
Cao et al silver nanoparticles were attached to sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) membranes using vitamin C as the reducing agent. 

The Synthesis of Polyvinylpyrrolidone and Its Nanosilver-Based Polymer Composites in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
[(165) Polymer Science: Series B 52 #3-4 (2010)
  abstract
Said-Galiev et from the Russian Academy of Sciences formed polyvinylpyrrolidone containing 1 nm silver particles by synthesizing the polymer in supercritical carbon dioxide at 20 MPa, impregnating with a silver complex of 1,5(cyclooc-tadiene)-1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetyl acetonate and reducing the silver with hydrogen.  (RDC 11/12/2010)