abstract
Silver nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in amorphous silica shells are synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial action using the Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacterium. These inorganic capsules are synthesized using a new approach that comprises the use of oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) multiple emulsions to fabricate SiO2 capsules incorporating organically capped Ag NPs. This strategy is explored as a mean to promote the bioadhesion of the microorganisms to the silica rough surfaces while still keeping the system with a high surface area for the active metal. The results have shown that the hybrid capsules enable a slow release of cationic silver from the interior of the silica microsphere to the external medium probably through the pore channels in the shell. The antibacterial activity against E. coli is mainly determined by the Ag+ ion release rate, suggesting that these particulates can be employed as a robust system for prolonged used as an antimicrobial material.
keywords
ESCHERICHIA-COLI; SILVER NANOPARTICLES; SILICA MICROSPHERES; GOLD NANOPARTICLES; HOLLOW SPHERE; MICROCAPSULES; RELEASE; ENCAPSULATION; PARTICLES; COLLOIDS
subject category
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Materials Science
authors
Sousa, FL; Almeida, A; Girao, AV; Fateixa, S; Trindade, T
our authors
Ana Violeta Girão
Junior Researcher
Filipa Lourosa Sousa
Junior Researcher
Sara Fateixa
Post-Doc Fellowship
Tito Trindade
Full professorGroups
G1 - Porous Materials and Nanosystems
G2 - Photonic, Electronic and Magnetic Materials
G3 - Electrochemical Materials, Interfaces and Coatings
acknowledgements
F. Sousa, A. Girao and S. Fateixa are thankful to FCT for the grants SFRH/BPD/71033/2010, SFRH/BPD/66407/2009, and SFRH/BPD/93547/2013, respectively. This research was financially supported by, FEDER through Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE and national funds through FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia within CICECO project -FCOMP-01-0124-FERDER-037271 (FCT Ref. Pest-C/CTM/LA0011/2013) and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (project Pest-C/MAR/LA0017/2013) is also acknowledged.