One-Pot Synthesis of Biocompatible Silver Nanoparticle Composites from Cellulose and Keratin: Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity.

A novel, simple method was developed to synthesize biocompatible composites containing 50% cellulose (CEL) and 50% keratin (KER) and silver in the form of either ionic (Ag) or Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs or AgNPs). In this method, butylmethylimmidazolium chloride ([BMImCl]), a simple ionic liquid, was used as the sole solvent and silver chloride was added to the [BMImCl] solution of [CEL+KER] during the dissolution process. The silver in the composites can be maintained as ionic silver (Ag) or completely converted to metallic silver (Ag) by reducing it with NaBH.

Synthesis, structure and antimicrobial property of green composites from cellulose, wool, hair and chicken feather.

Novel composites between cellulose (CEL) and keratin (KER) from three different sources (wool, hair and chicken feather) were successfully synthesized in a simple one-step process in which butylmethylimidazolium chloride (BMIm(+)Cl(-)), an ionic liquid, was used as the sole solvent. The method is green and recyclable because [BMIm(+)Cl(-)] used was recovered for reuse. Spectroscopy (FTIR, XRD) and imaging (SEM) results confirm that CEL and KER remain chemically intact and homogeneously distributed in the composites.