title: The biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of collagen-stabilized, photochemically prepared silver nanoparticles.
abstract: Spherical 3.5 nm diameter silver nanoparticles (AgNP) stabilized in type I collagen (AgNP@collagen) were prepared in minutes (5-15 min) at room temperature by a photochemical method initiated by UVA irradiation of a water-soluble non-toxic benzoin. This biocomposite was examined to evaluate its biocompatibility and its anti-bacterial properties and showed remarkable properties. Thus, while keratinocytes and fibroblasts were not affected by AgNP@collagen, it was bactericidal against Bacillus megaterium and E. coli but only bacteriostatic against S. epidermidis. In particular, the bactericidal properties displayed by AgNP@collagen were proven to be due to AgNP in AgNP@collagen, rather than to released silver ions, since equimolar concentrations of Ag are about four times less active than AgNP@collagen based on total Ag content. This new biocomposite was stable over a remarkable range of NaCl, phosphate, and 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid concentrations and for over one month at 4 °C. Circular dichroism studies show that the conformation of collagen in AgNP@collagen remains intact. Finally, we have compared the properties of AgNP@collagen with a similar biocomposite prepared using α-poly-L-Lysine and also with citrate stabilized AgNP; neither of these materials showed comparable biocompatibility, stability, or anti-bacterial activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Centre for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Emilio I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Alarcon
authors.forename: Klas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Udekwu
authors.forename: Mårten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skog
authors.forename: Natalia L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Pacioni
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Stamplecoskie
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Béjar
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Polisetti
authors.forename: Abeni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wickham
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richter-Dahlfors
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Scaiano
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011107:Polylysine; D012834:Silver; D003094:Collagen