Nanostructured silver vanadate as a promising antibacterial additive to water-based paints

In this article, we report the use of nanostructured silver vanadate as a promising antibacterial additive to water-based paints that has potential for applications in bathrooms, kitchens, and hospital environments. This hybrid nanomaterial was prepared by a simple and fast precipitation reaction involving silver nitrate and ammonium vanadate, dismissing the hydrothermal treatment. The preparation involved using Ag vanadate nanowires (β-AgVO(3)) with diameters ranging from 20 to 60 nm and decorated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters ranging from 5 to 40 nm. Results of antibacterial tests show that this hybrid material has a promising antibacterial activity against several types of bacteria strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA), Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium. The evaluated material exhibits antibacterial activity 30 times larger than that of Oxacillin. In addition, this nanomaterial was tested as an antibacterial additive to water-based paints, and formulations with 1% show a 4-mm inhibition zone against a MRSA strain.