Polymeric microspheres containing silver nanoparticles as a bactericidal agent for water disinfection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing effective water disinfection methods is crucial for public health.
• Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit potent antimicrobial properties.
• Macroporous copolymer beads offer a stable platform for nanoparticle immobilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile method for anchoring silver nanoparticles onto macroporous methacrylic acid copolymer beads.
• To evaluate the stability and antibacterial efficacy of these AgNP-loaded beads for water disinfection.
• To assess the material's performance against various bacterial strains, including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Methacrylic acid copolymer beads were synthesized using suspension polymerization.
• Silver nanoparticles were formed and anchored onto the beads via a chemical reduction method.
• Antibacterial activity was tested against four bacterial strains (two gram-positive, two gram-negative), including spore-forming Bacillus subtilis.

Main Results:

• The anchored silver nanoparticles demonstrated excellent stability, with no leaching observed during water washing due to interaction with carboxylic functional groups.
• The AgNP-loaded copolymer beads exhibited potent biocidal activity, effectively reducing bacterial counts.
• Complete bacterial elimination was achieved for most strains, with a 99.9% reduction for Bacillus subtilis spores.

Conclusions:

• The developed silver nanoparticle-anchored methacrylic acid copolymer beads represent a stable and highly effective material for water disinfection.
• The material shows significant potential as a reusable and efficient solution for eliminating bacterial contamination in water sources.
• No bacterial adsorption or adhesion was observed on the beads, confirming their efficacy as a disinfectant.