ARS | Publication request: Keratin capped silver nanoparticles - synthesis and characterization of a nanomaterial with desirable handling properties

Submitted to: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 6, 2011
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Citation: Martin, J.J., Cardamone, J.M., Irwin, P.L., Brown, E.M. 2011. Keratin capped silver nanoparticles - synthesis and characterization of a nanomaterial with desirable handling properties. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 88(1):354-361.

Interpretive Summary: Silver nanoparticles (NPs) were combined (capped) with keratin as a stabilizer and the product was of average diameter, 3.5nm +/- 0.7 nm. The mass of keratin stabilizer was of 6-8 kDa and the combined keratin/ nanoparticle product was >250kDa to indicate the keratin had combined with silver NPs. Instrumentation showed no observable effect on the protein’s physical structure. Infrared spectroscopy suggested interactions with the chemical groups of each constituent. Keratin capped silver NPs were extremely stable to storage of over six months at ambient conditions in aqueous media. These products can be processed into a powder for long-term storage and can be subsequently suspended in water without associating. The synthesis method is effective and efficient with processing ease for the production of versatile biocompatible applications which utilize the rich chemistry of keratin.

Technical Abstract: Silver nanoparticles (NPs) were produced with keratin stabilizer and the NPs exhibited unimodal Gaussian distribution with average diameter of 3.5nm +/- 0.7 nm. The molecular mass of keratin stabilizer was 6-8 kDa. The mass of keratin capped NPs was >250 kDa to indicate the formation of crosslinked keratin associated silver NPs. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed no observable effect on the protein conformation. FT-IR suggested interations with the hydroxyl and amide regions by shifts in the fequency of these modes and by broadening of the amide I region. The keratin-capped silver NPs were extremely stable for over six months at ambient conditions in aqueous media. Keratin-capped silver NP suspensions can be processed into a powder by lyophilization for long-term storage and can be subsequently suspended in water without agglomeration. The synthesis method is effective and efficient with processing ease for the production of versatile biocompatible applications which utilize the rich chemistry of keratin.