Hyaluronan-assisted synthesis of silver nanoparticles and nanowires.

Silver nanowires (NWs) were successfully synthesized in high yield in cationic surfactant solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with hyaluronan (HA) additive. Most of the NWs had diameter of 10-30 nm and length of more than tens of microns. The carboxylate group of HA provides a stronger electrostatic interaction with the cationic heads of CTAB and promotes formation of lengthened cylindrical micelles. Silver ions were reduced by addition of ascorbic acid and heating, and the embryonic silver seeds promoted growth of silver NWs along the one-dimensional direction of the cylindrical micelles. Presence of any gold nanoparticles or nanorods in the solution can prominently inhibit the formation of silver seeds and decrease the yield of silver NWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]