In this work, a novel free AgNPs composite, St-A-E/M, and nanocomposite beads, St-A-E/M-Ag, as a novel drug carrier were successfully prepared and used as controlled-release drug delivery systems for methyl prednisolone as a model drug. The structure of the resulted materials was identified using UV–Vis, SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, TEM, DLS, AFM and TGA/DTG spectroscopic techniques. (323 characters)