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Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces In Vitro
Published on: April 21, 2023
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Fabrication of Antibacterial Metal Surfaces Using Magnetron-Sputtering Method
Agata Markowska-Szczupak1, Oliwia Paszkiewicz1, Beata Michalkiewicz2
1Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastów Ave. 42, 71-065 Szczecin, Poland.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 10, 2021
Summary
Silver, copper, and gold nanocrystallite films were tested for antibacterial properties. Silver and gold films, especially when combined with copper, showed significant contact-killing efficacy against bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Metallic nanoparticles exhibit antimicrobial properties.
- Developing effective contact-killing surfaces is crucial for combating bacterial infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize silver, copper, and gold nanocrystallite films.
- To quantitatively measure the antibacterial properties of these metallic films.
Main Methods:
- Magnetron sputtering was used to create 100-nm single- and double-layer films on glass.
- Film characterization involved XRD, SEM, EDS, and XPS.
- Antibacterial activity was tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Main Results:
- Crystallite sizes were approximately 30 nm for silver and gold, and a few nanometers for copper.
- Significant oxidation was observed in copper films.
- Antibacterial efficacy order was Ag/Cu > Au/Cu > Cu.
Conclusions:
- Metallic nanocrystallite films, particularly silver-copper and gold-copper, demonstrate potent contact-killing antibacterial activity.
- These materials show potential for application as antimicrobial surfaces to combat bacteria and viruses.
