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Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles
Published on: October 4, 2012
Colloidal silver fabrication using the spark discharge system and its antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus
Der-Chi Tien1, Kuo-Hsiung Tseng, Chih-Yu Liao
1Graduate Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Da-An District, Taipei 106, Taiwan. s3408508@ntut.edu.tw
Medical Engineering & Physics
|December 11, 2007
Summary
Nanoscale silver production offers a safer alternative to traditional methods. Colloidal silver (CS) with 30 ppm or higher ionic silver effectively destroys Staphylococcus aureus, with potency linked to ion concentration.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Increasing antibiotic resistance in pathogens necessitates novel antimicrobial strategies.
- Traditional chemical synthesis of colloidal silver (CS) can introduce toxic residues, compromising efficacy.
- Nanoscale silver production presents a promising avenue for the resurgence of medical silver applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a chemically clean method for producing colloidal silver (CS) using a spark discharge system (SDS).
- To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of SDS-generated CS against Staphylococcus aureus.
- To determine the relationship between ionic silver concentration and antimicrobial potency.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of colloidal silver suspension using a spark discharge system (SDS) in deionized water.
- Characterization of SDS-CS, noting the presence of metallic silver nanoparticles (Ag(0)) and ionic silver (Ag(+)).
- Testing the antimicrobial activity of SDS-CS against Staphylococcus aureus, correlating results with ionic silver concentration.
Main Results:
- SDS-CS was successfully produced without chemical surfactants, containing both Ag(0) and Ag(+).
- Colloidal silver solutions with 30 ppm or higher ionic silver concentration demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus.
- A direct correlation was observed between the concentration of silver ions and the antimicrobial potency of the solution.
Conclusions:
- Spark discharge system fabrication offers a viable, surfactant-free method for producing effective colloidal silver.
- SDS-CS exhibits significant antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, particularly at higher ionic silver concentrations.
- The study highlights the critical role of silver ion concentration in determining the antibacterial efficacy of colloidal silver preparations.
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