In situ formation of silver nanostructures within a polysaccharide film and application as a potential biocompatible fluorescence sensing medium

Simple to manufacture polysaccharide films containing a silver salt, from which silver nanostructures can be produced in situ by light irradiation, were investigated for possible biosensing applications. The silver nanostructures were patterned in situ within a film and cast from a liquid solution of gellan gum, using a compact time-resolved fluorescence microscope. The position and time of irradiation, made using a semiconductor laser in CW mode, were computer controlled. Evidence for their formation was obtained via UV-vis spectroscopy, AFM and SEM-EDAX.