title: Synthesis and characterization of Cu/Ag nanoparticle loaded mullite nanocomposite system: A potential candidate for antimicrobial and therapeutic applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microbial resistance to antibiotics has triggered the development of nanoscale materials as an alternative strategy. To stabilize these particles an inert support is needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Porous nanomullite developed by sol-gel route is loaded with copper and silver nanoparticle by simple adsorption method. These nanocomposites are characterized using XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM, EDAX and UV-visible spectrophotometer. Antibacterial activity of these nanocomposites against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria are performed by bactericidal kinetics, flow cytometry and MTT assay. The underlying mechanisms behind the antimicrobial property and cell death are also investigated by EPR spectroscopy, intracellular ROS measurement and β-galactosidase assay. The cytocompatibility of the nanocomposites is investigated by cell viability (MTT), proliferation (Alamar blue) and wound healing assay of mammalian fibroblast cell line.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nanocomposites show a fairly uniform distribution of metal nanoparticle within mullite matrix. They show excellent antibacterial activity. Metal ions/nanoparticle is found to be released from the materials (CM and SM). Treated cells manifested high intracellular oxidative stress and β-galactosidase activity in the growth medium. The effect of nanocomposites on mammalian cell line depends on exposure time and concentration. The scratch assay shows normal cell migration with respect to control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fabricated nanoparticles possess diverse antimicrobial mechanism and exhibit good cytocompatibility along with wound healing characteristics in mouse fibroblast cell line (L929).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The newly synthesized materials are promising candidates for the development of antimicrobial ceramic coatings for biomedical devices and therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.affiliation: Fuel Cell and Battery Division, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata 700 032, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bagchi
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Department, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.affiliation: Bose Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Kolkata 700 054, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhandary
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Jogamaya Devi College, Kolkata 700 026, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata 700 068, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nandy
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: sukhendasju@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Cyto-compatibility; Metal nanoparticle; Mullite