Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) via electron beam (EB) radiation using carboxymethyl sago pulp (CMSP) was achieved. The conditions for the synthesis of CMSP capped silver nanoparticles were optimized by varying the pH, concentration of CMSP, degree of substitution of CMSP (DS), EB radiation dose and the size of the nanoparticles were studied. UV-vis spectroscopy shows the maximum surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak (nm) decreased as the pH increased indicating that an increase in the pH of the solution favored the formation of smaller particles. The FTIR spectra confirmed the capping of Ag-NPs with CMSP. The XRD peaks showed Braggs reflections of silver revealing the face centered cubic structure of Ag-NPs. The TEM micrographs showed that the Ag-NPs were well dispersed and spherical in shape. The average particle mean diameters were calculated to 15.00 +/- 1.07 nm for 1% CMSP (DS 0.8), pH 11 and 50 kGy sample which was in close resemblance with the DLS average particle size, 16.00 +/- 0.30 nm. The green synthesis of Ag-NPs embedded in CMSP hydrogel is a highly clean material that is expected to be economical and competent antimicrobial materials in biomedical fields. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.