Characteristic of nanoparticle-chitosan system: solution and thin film study

Nanoparticle (NP)-chitosan system is very important composite nanomaterial related to their unique properties and applications. In this work, chitosan was composited by two types of nanoparticle i.e. silver nanoparticles (Ag (NP)) and activated nanocarbon (ANC), respectively. The presence of nanoparticle in chitosan system gave effect to viscosity of solution and hydrophilicity of thin film. In Ag (NP)-chitosan system, the addition of 10, 15 and 25% (v/v) Ag (NP) suspension increased their viscosity. Different result was obtained for ANC-chitosan system, where addition of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.5% (w/v) of ANC deacreased viscosity of solution. This property affected distribution of the nanoparticles in chitosan thin film and its hydrophilicity. The chitosan thin film nano-compositehad higher hydrophilicity than pure chitosan. Infrared spectrum analysis showed that nanoparticles which were composited in chitosan system gave shifting in O-H stretching vibration, C=O stretching vibration (amide I) and N-H bending and C-N stretching (amide II). (paper)