Enhanced bioactivity of polystyrene-silver nanocomposite (PS/Ag NCs)-an antimicrobial study

Polystyrene has been widely used as everyday materials and silver has been found as an anti-bacterial agent. Combination of polystyrene and silver into a polymer-metal composites (PS/ Ag NCs) could merge both properties. Polystyrene can be modify through many routes, while silver nanoparticles can be manipulated to serve as antimicrobial and drug delivery agent. The present study uses expanded polystyrene which was dissolved in Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and doped with silver nanoparticles synthesized through leaf extract of Parthenium. The PS/Ag NCs were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The analysis of various synthesis of PS/Ag NCs with different PS:Ag ratio create complex nanocomposites. UV-Vis spectrum of 435 nm indicated the effect of Localize Surface Plasmon resonance of silver nanosize confirmed the nanosize of Silver nanoparticles that are ready to be used anti-bacterial agent. Future works will be looked into modifying the polymer (Polystyrene) structure to be used as attachment surfaces for drug molecules for drug delivery system, thus serves as bi-functional composite that not only useful for drug delivery system and as anti-bacterial agent as well.