Fabrication of antibacterial monodispersed Ag-SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles with high concentration

Monodispersed Ag-SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles with a high concentration of 400 mg/L were successfully fabricated by using tetraethoxysilane as silica precursor and reducing silver nitrate with ascorbic acid in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles had a spherical silver core in a size range from 14-26 nm in diameter and an amorphous silica shell of 15-28 nm thickness, respectively. The antibacterial effects of Ag-SiO2 core-shell particles against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were tested by the usual twofold serial dilution method for minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results indicated that the core-shell nanoparticles owned excellent antibacterial effects. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.