Time and dose-dependent antimicrobial potential of Ag nanoparticles synthesized by top-down approach

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles are known to be good antibiotic agents. In this study, silver (Ag) nanoparticles (∼6 nm) were synthesized using electro-exploding wire (EEW) technique. Antibacterial action of Ag nanoparticles was studied both in liquid and solid phase using colony-forming unit (CFU) detection. Time and dose-dependent study of Ag nanoparticles shows that the effectiveness of particles increases with increasing particle dose and treatment time. This effect was dose-dependent and more pronounced against Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive bacteria. Transmission electron microscopy result shows particle binding with bacterial cell membrane. Membrane potential assay and cytoplasm diffusion assay show the effectiveness of Ag nanoparticle used in this study.