Sulfur nanoparticles stabilized in the presence of water-soluble polymers

A method was developed to prepare sulfur nanoparticles (nanosulfur) via reaction between sodium thiosulfate and sulfuric acid in the presence of water-soluble poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with different molecular weights. Polymeric hydrogel ointments were prepared from agar-agar, PVP, poly(ethylene glycol) solutions with virable concentrations of sodium thiosulfate and sulfuric acid. The ointment samples showed antibacterial and antifungal activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida guilliermondii.