Characterization and antibacterial efficacy of silver-coated Ca-Na-Zn-Si/Ti glasses

A glass series [xSiO₂[-y])·0.36ZnO·0.17Na₂O·0.05CaO (starting at x = 0.50, y = 0.08 TiO₂)] was formulated with TiO₂ substituting SiO₂. Each glass/silver-coated glass was characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy. Surface area analysis revealed significant changes after silver coating, 0.43-0.95 m²/g (control), to 0.53-1.85 m²/g (AU-1), and 0.20-1.11 m²/g (AU-2). Ion release from uncoated glasses included sodium (0.08 mg/L), calcium (0.07 mg/L), and zinc (0.008 mg/L), where silver-coated glasses presented 0.42 mg/L (silver), 0.33 mg/L (sodium), 0.02 mg/L (calcium), and 0.01 mg/L (zinc). Ag-coated glasses presented inhibition zones of 7.75 mm (control) compared to 1.04 mm (AU-2).