title: The potent antimicrobial properties of cell penetrating peptide-conjugated silver nanoparticles with excellent selectivity for gram-positive bacteria over erythrocytes.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles are of great interest for use as antimicrobial agents. Studies aimed at producing potent nano-silver biocides have focused on manipulation of particle size, shape, composition and surface charge. Here, we report the cell penetrating peptide catalyzed formation of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles in N,N-dimethylformamide. The novel nano-composite demonstrated a distinctly enhanced biocidal effect toward bacteria (gram-positive Bacillus subtilis, gram-negative Escherichia coli) and pathogenic yeast (Candida albicans), as compared to triangular and extremely small silver nanoparticles. In addition, a satisfactory biocompatibility was verified by a haemolysis test. Our results provide a paradigm in developing strategies that can maximize the silver nanoparticle application potentials while minimizing the toxic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, WA 6148, Australia.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhentao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yi Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shaomin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006461:Hemolysis; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides; D012834:Silver