Antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles of different sizes, surface conditions and synthesis methods

摘要

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-nps) are used as a natural biocide to prevent undesired bacterial growth in clothing and cosmetics. The objective of this study was to assess the antibacterial efficacy of Ag-nps of different sizes, surface conditions, and synthesis methods against Escherichia coli, Ag-resistant E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and Salmonella sp. Ag-nps samples were synthesized by: Base reduction with unmodified surfaces and used as synthesized ('unwashed' 20, 50 and 80 nm) or after 20 phosphate buffer washes ('washed' 20, 50 and 80 nm), or synthesized by laser ablation with carbon-stabilized surfaces ('carbon-coated' 25 and 35 nm). Unwashed Ag-nps were toxic to all bacterial strains at concentrations between 3.0-8.0 μg/ml. The washed Ag-nps and carbon-coated Ag-nps were toxic to all bacterial strains except Ag-resistant E. coli at concentrations between 64.0-1024.0 μg/ml. Ag-resistant E. coli died only when treated with unwashed Ag-nps or its supernatant, both of which contained formaldehyde.