Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-Poly(propylene oxide) Amphiphilic Block Copolymer-Mediated Growth of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Behavior

Silver nanoparticles were grown in self-assembled amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide) (PEO/PPO) triblock copolymers in selective solvents. Ternary systems of block copolymer, water, and p-xylene were used, forming a dispersion of water droplets in oil (reverse micellar) as well as binary water/block copolymer solutions. Besides its stabilizing affect, the role of the copolymer as a reducing agent for the metal salt precursors...