A facile route to prepare colorless Ag-Cu nanoparticle dispersions with elevated antibacterial effects

Colorless Ag-Cu nanoparticle (NP) dispersions have been prepared by heating polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-stabilized Ag NPs with Cu ions. They were characterized by TEM photomicrographs and UV-Visible spectroscopy. They showed high stability, and enhanced antibacterial effects against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and C. albicans. The antibacterial order decreased from Ag-Cu NPs to Ag NPs + Cu ions, to unheated Ag NPs, to heated Ag NPs.

Automated summary

Colorless Ag-Cu nanoparticle (NP) dispersions were prepared by heating PVP and PVA-stabilized Ag NPs with Cu ions, showing high stability and enhanced antibacterial effects. The antibacterial order decreased from Ag-Cu NPs to Ag NPs + Cu ions, to unheated Ag NPs, to heated Ag NPs.