Nanotechnology, Science and Applications (Dec 2016)
Antimicrobial dependence of silver nanoparticles on surface plasmon resonance bands against Escherichia coli
Abstract
Nichrous G Mlalila,1,2 Hulda Shaidi Swai,1 Askwar Hilonga,3 Dattatreya M Kadam2 1School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania; 2ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (ICAR-CIPHET), Ludhiana, Punjab, India; 3Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania Abstract: This study presents a simple and trouble-free method for determining the antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands. AgNPs were prepared by chemical reduction method using silver nitrates as a metallic precursor and formaldehyde (HCHO) as a reducing agent and capped by polyethylene glycol. Effects of several processing variables on the size and shape of AgNPs were monitored using an ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer based on their SPR bands. The formed particles showing various particle shapes and full width at half maximum (FWHM) were tested against Escherichia coli by surface spreading using agar plates containing equal amounts of selected AgNPs samples. The NPs exhibited higher antimicrobial properties; however, monodispersed spherical NPs with narrow FWHM were more effective against E. coli growth. The NPs prepared are promising candidates in diverse applications such as antimicrobial agents in the food and biomedical industries. Keywords: antimicrobial agent, bandwidth, full width at half maximum, nanoparticles, particle size
