Characterization and antibacterial properties of chitin and silver nanoparticles decorted chitin produced from eustigmaeus absens (Acari: stigmaidae)

In this work, 3D chitin was obtained from Eustigmaeus absens Doğan (Acari) mite species by chemical method and silver nanoparticles were decorated on the obtained chitin. The resulting chitins were used for diluted total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), stereo microscope, phase-contrast equipped light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). analyzed and their antibacterial activities were evaluated. It was determined that the obtained chitin contained carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) elements and trace amount of calcium (Ca) element. The amide-I and amide-II bands characteristic for α-chitin were observed by ATR-FTIR analysis. With SEM images, it was revealed that the surface of the chitin consisted of macropores, micropores and cut nanofibers. With TEM analysis, it was determined that the sizes of silver nanoparticles differed between 6-20 nm. Images taken from the stereo microscope and the phase-contrast equipped light microscope showed that the chitin was obtained without disturbing the 3D structure of the organism. In addition, it was determined that silver nanoparticle chitin exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213.