title: Impact of solution chemistry on the properties and bactericidal activity of silver nanoparticles decorated on superabsorbent cryogels.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and various electrolytes commonly found in environmental aqueous matrices on the physicochemical properties and bactericidal efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are immobilized on cryogels (or PSA/AgNP cryogel). The AgNPs in the PSA/AgNP cryogel that were exposed to different media underwent morphological transformation in terms of particle size and structure. In addition, the presence of DOM and electrolytes increased the release of dissolved Ag. The biological uptake of Ag species (determined as the total Ag in exposed cells) increased in the presence of DOM, but decreased in the presence of electrolytes. The presence of electrolytes did not result in any significant reduction in the bactericidal activity. Although an initial increase of the DOM to 2.5 mg-C L(-1) attenuated the bactericidal efficacy of the immobilized AgNPs, an increase in the DOM concentration beyond 5 mg-C L(-1) enhanced the bactericidal efficacy. This study found that the bactericidal activity of the immobilized AgNPs is less sensitive to the solution chemistry relative to the free AgNPs. This suggests that immobilizing the AgNPs in a supporting material is a good strategy to preserve their efficacy for disinfection in various aqueous matrices.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, #05-05, Singapore 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Siew-Leng
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0424, USA.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Krantz
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, #05-05, Singapore 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. Electronic address: agfane@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fane
authors.affiliation: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, #05-05, Singapore 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. Electronic address: cttlim@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Teik-Thye
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059985:Cryogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012996:Solutions; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D059985:Cryogels; D012996:Solutions; D012834:Silver
keywords: Composite; Disinfection; Dissolution; E. coli; Environmental matrix; Hydrogel; Silver