Preparation, characterization and antibiotic properties of silver–silicon nanocomposites

Abstract

In recent years, researchers have paid more attention to eco-friendly colloidal silver nanoparticles featuring smaller particle sizes to enhance their remarkable antimicrobial properties. Here, we synthesized silver nanoparticles immobilized on porous silicon microparticles in a single step. The as-prepared materials exhibit excellent antibiotic properties. Porous silicon microparticles serve as reducing agents, anti-aggregation templates and carrying media in this system. The diameter of the synthesized spherical silver nanoparticles is approximately 22 ± 8 nm. The hybrid materials also feature many other advantages, such as: (i) favorable dispersion in aqueous medium, (ii) no surface modification requirements for superior long-term antibiotic activity against both Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive human pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus), and (iii) easy-loading of magnetic nanoparticles into pores, making them guidable to specified local areas to increase the concentration of effective antibacterial agents. The minimum inhibitory concentration values are 104.2 μg mL⁻¹ for Escherichia coli and 208.4 μg mL⁻¹ for Staphylococcus aureus.