γ-Irradiated Chitosan Mediates Enhanced Synthesis and Antimicrobial Properties of Chitosan-Silver (Ag) Nanocomposites.

Chitosan (CSN) and its derivatives are being exploited for their potential role in agriculture in mitigating environmental stress factors. The present study was aimed to enhance the synthesis of chitosan (CSN)-based silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using γ-irradiated chitosan (IR-CSN) and to study the antimicrobial activity of IR-CSN-Ag NPs. The chitosan-silver nanocomposites (CSN-Ag NPs) were prepared by employing the green synthesis method using normal chitosan (high molecular weight (MW), NL-CSN) and oligochitosans (low MW, IR-CSN).