Chemical Synthesis of Innovative Silver Nanohybrids with Synergistically Improved Antimicrobial Properties
Jianhua Yan1, Qifei Wang1,2, Junlin Yang2
1Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
Background:
The wide use of antibiotics has created challenges related to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which have been increasingly found in recent decades. Antibiotic resistance has led to limited choices of antibiotics. Multiple old antimicrobial agents have high antimicrobial properties toward bacteria, but they unfortunately also possess high toxicity toward humans. For instance, silver (Ag) compounds were frequently used to treat tetanus and rheumatism in the 19th century and to treat colds and gonorrhea in the early 20th century. However, the high toxicity of Ag has limited its clinical use.
Purpose:
We aimed to reformulate Ag to reduce its toxicity toward human cells like osteoblasts and to optimize its antimicrobial properties.
Results:
Ag, an old antimicrobial agent, was reformulated by hybriding nanomaterials of different dimensions, and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of controllable sizes (95-200 nm) and varying shapes (cube, snowflake, and sphere) were synthesized on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The obtained AgNP-CNT nanohybrids presented significantly higher killing efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) compared to AgNPs at the same molar concentration and showed synergism in killing S. aureus at 0.2 and 0.4 mM. AgNPs presented significant osteoblast toxicity; in contrast, AgNP-CNT nanohybrids demonstrated significantly enhanced osteoblast viability at 0.04-0.8 mM. The killing of S. aureus by AgNP-CNT nanohybrids was fast, occurring within 15 min.
Conclusion:
Ag was successfully reformulated and Ag nanohybrids with various AgNP shapes on CNTs were synthesized. The nanohybrids presented significantly enhanced antimicrobial properties and significantly higher osteoblast cell viability compared to AgNPs, showing promise as an innovative antimicrobial nanomaterial for a broad range of biomedical applications.
Insights
Researchers reformulated silver (Ag) into nanohybrids with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to combat antibiotic resistance. These novel Ag nanohybrids show enhanced antimicrobial activity and reduced toxicity, offering a promising alternative for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanomaterials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Antimicrobial Research
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat, necessitating new antimicrobial strategies.
- Traditional antimicrobial agents like silver (Ag) have limitations due to human toxicity.
- Reformulating Ag is crucial to harness its antimicrobial potential while minimizing adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reformulate silver (Ag) by creating nanohybrids with carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
- To reduce the toxicity of Ag compounds towards human osteoblast cells.
- To optimize the antimicrobial efficacy of Ag against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with controlled sizes (95-200 nm) and shapes (cube, snowflake, sphere) on carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
- Evaluation of the antimicrobial killing efficacy of AgNP-CNT nanohybrids against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
- Assessment of the cytotoxicity of AgNPs and AgNP-CNT nanohybrids on osteoblast cells.
Main Results:
- AgNP-CNT nanohybrids demonstrated significantly higher S. aureus killing efficacy compared to AgNPs alone.
- Synergistic antimicrobial effects were observed for AgNP-CNT nanohybrids at specific concentrations (0.2 and 0.4 mM).
- AgNP-CNT nanohybrids exhibited significantly enhanced osteoblast cell viability, unlike AgNPs which showed toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Successful reformulation of silver into AgNP-CNT nanohybrids with tunable AgNP properties.
- The nanohybrids exhibit superior antimicrobial activity and reduced human cell toxicity compared to conventional AgNPs.
- These AgNP-CNT nanohybrids represent a promising innovative antimicrobial nanomaterial for diverse biomedical applications.
