The aim of the current study was to investigate the growth mechanisms of the silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in chitosan macrogels and microgels acting both as reductants and stabilizing agents in self-neutralizing, biocompatible, and environmentally benign carbonic acid solutions. The chitosan-hydroquinone microgels loaded with Ag NPs incorporated in carbonic acid solutions were successfully prepared. However, it was found that during the reduction of nanoparticles by hydrogen, the microgels tend to deteriorate. Yet, it was found that the duration of the process of silver reduction by chitosan in the composite macrogels obtained in a solution of carbonic acid took no more than 1 month. The process of the reduction was accompanied by the appearance of relatively small aggregates of Ag NPs uniformly distributed in the volume of the hydrogel. Such a “gentle” reduction of Ag NPs allows to avoid the loss of mechanical stability of the gel.

中文翻译：

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壳聚糖在碳酸溶液中稳定纳米银的机理

本研究的目的是研究银纳米粒子 (Ag NPs) 在壳聚糖大凝胶和微凝胶中的生长机制，它们在自中和、生物相容性和环境友好的碳酸溶液中充当还原剂和稳定剂。成功制备了负载有掺入碳酸溶液中的 Ag NPs 的壳聚糖-氢醌微凝胶。然而，发现在用氢还原纳米粒子的过程中，微凝胶趋于恶化。然而，发现在碳酸溶液中获得的复合巨凝胶中壳聚糖还原银的过程持续时间不超过1个月。还原过程伴随着均匀分布在水凝胶体积中的相对较小的 Ag NP 聚集体的出现。