Hyaluronan- and heparin-reduced silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties.
OBJECTIVE
Silver nanoparticles exhibit unique antibacterial properties that make these ideal candidates for biological and medical applications. We utilized a clean method involving a single synthetic step to prepare silver nanoparticles that exhibit antimicrobial activity.


METHODS
These nanoparticles were prepared by reducing silver nitrate with diaminopyridinylated heparin (DAPHP) and hyaluronan (HA) polysaccharides and tested for their efficacy in inhibiting microbial growth.


CONCLUSIONS
The resulting silver nanoparticles exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and modest activity against Escherichia coli. Silver-HA showed greater antimicrobial activity than silver-DAPHP, while silver-glucose nanoparticles exhibited very weak antimicrobial activity. Neither HA nor DAPHP showed activity against S. aureus or E. coli.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that DAPHP and HA silver nanoparticles have potential in antimicrobial therapeutic applications.
Kemp
Melissa M
MM
Department of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
Kumar
Ashavani
A
Clement
Dylan
D
Ajayan
Pulickel
P
Mousa
Shaker
S
Linhardt
Robert J
RJ
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012834:Silver; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D006493:Heparin