Improved Synthesis of Ag/SiO₂ Colloidal Nanocomposites and Their Antibacterial Activity Against Ralstonia solanacearum 15

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2021 Mar 1;21(3):1598-1605. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2021.19021.

Abstract

Ag/SiO₂ colloidal nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared through the semi-continuous chemical reduction of silver ions on a silica surface; NaBH4 was used as a primary reducing agent, while carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) served as a secondary reductant and a stabilizer at low temperature. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of an average diameter of 3.89±0.18 nm were uniformly and densely dispersed on the SiO₂ surface, forming 218.6-nm-sized Ag/SiO₂ NCs. The zeta potential of the Ag/SiO₂ NCs (-92.6 mV) was more negative than that of silica (-24 mV), indicating their high long-term stability. Furthermore, their proposed formation mechanism was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Then, the bactericidal effect of the Ag/SiO₂ was evaluated based on their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Ralstonia solanacearum 15 (R. solanacearum 15); it was 62.5 ppm, much lower than that of conventional AgNPs (500 ppm). Therefore, these highly stable Ag/SiO₂ colloidal NCs with more effective antibacterial activity than conventional AgNPs are a promising nanopesticide in agriculture.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Metal Nanoparticles*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Nanocomposites*
  • Particle Size
  • Ralstonia solanacearum*
  • Silicon Dioxide / pharmacology
  • Silver / pharmacology
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Silver
  • Silicon Dioxide