The Synthesis and Analysis of the Cytotoxicity of Al₂O₃-Supported Silver Nanoparticles Prepared by the Plasma Chemical Process Initiated by Pulsed MW Radiation in the Al₂O₃–Ag Powder Mixtures

Abstract

An original plasma chemical process initiated by microwave discharge in a mixture of metal and dielectric powders was applied to prepare specific materials, which consisted of microsized spherical particles of aluminum oxide covered with silver nanoparticles. The prepared materials are highly uniform in shape, size distribution, and composition. Their cytotoxicity was investigated using the human cell lines MCF7, HEK293T, A549, and VA-13 and the bacterial strains E. coli JW5503 (ΔtolC) and E. coli K12. Their cytotoxicity was found not to exceed the cytotoxicity of the starting materials. Thus, the prepared materials can be considered highly promising for catalysis and biotechnology applications.

Keywords

• aluminum oxide
• silver
• plasma chemical process
• microwave radiation
• cytotoxicity