Chitosan can coordinate metal ions (e.g. silver ions)
before reduction. When silver salts are dissolved in acidified
chitosan solutions, silver ions bind to the polymer chains
via amino groups. Then the reduction of those ions takes
place, coupled with the oxidation of the chitosan hydroxyl
groups [20, 25]. The nanoparticles generated are strongly
attached to the chitosan due to the chemical bond between
the electron-rich nitrogen present in the amino groups of
the polymer and the silver orbitals via their lone pairs [26].
Travan et al [27] demonstrated how the hydrophilic side
chains of chitosan play a fundamental role in the stabilization
and dispersion of silver nanoparticles, preventing their
agglomeration