Polymer-Silver Nanocomposites as Antibacterial materials

The antibacterial effect of silver has been used in a variety of commercially available products and medical devices for many years, either in its metallic or salt form. Nowadays, due to the knowledge acquired within the last decade in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for medical and sanitary purposes has been thoroughly studied and dramatically increased. One of the major concerns dealing with the use of AgNPs in human health and disinfection is, in fact, its toxicity what dictates the need to use safe strategies for AgNPs applications. Nanocomposites are a good approach since the mobility of the nanoobjects is reduced whereas their activity remains. In this context, the Intermatrix Synthesis technique provides a novel route for both synthesis and immobilisation of AgNPs in commercially available ion-exchange matrices. This chapter reviews the state-of-the-art of the nanotechnological approach in bactericidal application of AgNPs from ancient to modern time focusing on the Intermatrix Synthesis.