Polymer thin film with in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles as a potent reusable bactericide

Silver nanoparticles are well-established antibacterial agents. However, an effective design and formulation that ensures: (i) ease of synthesis and fabrication, (ii) amenability to deployment over large surfaces of variable shape, (iii) high efficacy and (iv) multiple reuses with the possibility of periodic monitoring, is yet to emerge. A nanocomposite thin film of poly(vinyl alcohol) with silver nanoparticles generated within, through a soft-chemical in situ synthesis, is shown to be a good candidate to fulfil most of the above requirements. Efficient antibacterial activity, multiple reuses and facile monitoring of the film through spectroscopy and microscopy are demonstrated. Preliminary studies demonstrate the effective bactericidal action of the thin film coating on stirring rods.