title: Titania-silver and alumina-silver composite nanoparticles: novel, versatile synthesis, reaction mechanism and potential antimicrobial application.
abstract: Titania-silver (TiO(2)-Ag) and alumina-silver (Al(2)O(3)-Ag) composite nanoparticles were synthesised by a simple, reproducible, wet chemical method under ambient conditions. The surface of the oxides was modified with oleic acid, which acted as an intermediate between the oxide surface and the silver nanoparticles. The resulting composite nanoparticles were thoroughly characterised by XRD, TEM, XPS, FTIR and TGA to elucidate the mode of assembly of Ag nanoparticles on the oxide surfaces. Epoxy nanocomposites were formulated with TiO(2)-Ag and Al(2)O(3)-Ag to examine potential applications for the composite nanoparticles. Preliminary results from disc diffusion assays against Escherichia coli DH5α and Staphylococcus epidermidis NCIMB 12721 suggest that these TiO(2)-Ag and Al(2)O(3)-Ag composite nanoparticles have potential as antimicrobial materials.
authors.affiliation: Materials & Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. tanushree31@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Tanushree
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bala
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Fathima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laffir
authors.forename: Roibeard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thornton
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012834:Silver; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide