In situ synthesis of nano silver/lecithin on wool: enhancing nanoparticles diffusion.

Silver nanoparticles are being used increasingly in various applications because of their antibacterial properties. It is necessary to lower their direct contact with the skin by embedding in a polymer reducing their side effects. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized inside the wool fibers acted as a polyfunctional ligands. Lecithin as a biological lipid was used to enhance the diffusion of silver ions and nanoparticles into the wool fibers reducing cytotoxicity effects of the nano silver loaded wool. The highest loading efficiency and inhibition zone was observed on the wool with the highest lecithin concentration. Presence of lecithin reduced the rate of nano silver release which results in decreasing the specific coefficient of lethality. Also, the extracted solution of the synthesized silver nanoparticles on the wool has not altered the morphology of L929 fibroblast cells.