Antibacterial Enhancement of High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters Modified with Graphene-Silver Hybrid Material

Bacterial infections are a major concern as antibiotic resistance poses a great threat, therefore leading to a race against time into finding new drugs or improving the existing resources. Nanomaterials with high surface area and bactericidal properties are the most promising ones that help combating microbial infections. In our case, graphene decorated with silver nanoparticles Gr-Ag (5 wt% Ag) exhibited inhibitory capacity against S. aureus and E. coli. The newly formed hybrid material was next incubated with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, to obtain one with bactericidal properties. The modified filter had greater inhibitory action against the tested strains, compared to the control, and the effect was better against the Gram-negative model. Even if the bacteria remained attached to the filters, their colony forming unit capacity was affected by the Gr-Ag (5 wt% Ag) hybrid material, when they were subsequently re-cultured on fresh agar media. Therefore, the HEPA filter modified with Gr-Ag (5 wt% Ag) has high antibacterial properties that may substantially improve the existing technology.

Automated summary

Bacterial infections pose a major threat due to antibiotic resistance, driving the need for new drugs or improved resources. Nanomaterials with high surface area and bactericidal properties show promise in combatting microbial infections. In this study, graphene decorated with silver nanoparticles (5 wt% Ag) exhibited inhibitory capacity against S. aureus and E. coli. The hybrid material was incubated with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, resulting in a modified filter with enhanced antibacterial properties, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria. The modified HEPA filter significantly affected the colony forming unit capacity of bacteria, suggesting its potential to improve existing technology.