An eco-friendly method was put forward to synthesize Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) by using biodegradable starch as a stabilizing agent. The silver ion from AgNO3 was reduced by glucose in soluble starch solution. Morphological observation and characterization of Ag NPs were performed by using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. HRTEM showed that Ag NPs were covered by starch layer to form spherical core-shell Ag/starch NPs with diameter ranging from 5 to 20 nm. XRD pattern confirmed the presence of Ag NPs with face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. All these results indicated that starch played an important role in stabilizing Ag NPs. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.