Development of silver/graphene oxide nanocomposites for antibacterial and antibiofilm applications

摘要

Diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are challenging to treat, and biofilms, which are polymeric conglomerations of bacterial extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and DNA, form rigid barriers that prevent external antibacterial reagents from penetrating. In synergy, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and biofilms are highly resistant to chemicals and antibiotics. To eliminate bacterial biofilms, we prepared silver nanoparticles on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to synergistically increase the efficacy of bacterial killing and biofilm removal with the minimum amount of toxicity to mammalian cells. Silver nanoparticles prepared on GO nanosheets were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by colony counting assay and minimum inhibitory concentrations against common bacteria. Finally, the antibiofilm properties of nanocomposites were tested in a microfluidic channel with biofilms formed along channel walls. This study shows the potential of silver nanoparticles on GO nanosheets to inhibit the proliferation of infectious bacteria and the formation of biofilms. (C) 2019 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.