The antibacterial activity of nanosilver against Gram negative Escherichia coli bacteria is investigated by immobilizing nanosilver on nanostructured silica particles and closely controlling Ag content and size. These Ag/SiO(2) nanoparticles were characterized by S/TEM, EDX spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction the exposed Ag surface area was measured qualitatively by O(2) chemisorption. Furthermore, the fraction of dissolved nanosilver was determined by measuring the released (leached) Ag(+) ion concentration in aqueous suspensions of such Ag/SiO(2) particles. The antibacterial effect of Ag(+) ions was distinguished from that of nanosilver particles by monitoring the growth of E. coli populations in the presence and absence of Ag/SiO(2) particles. The antibacterial activity of nanosilver was dominated by Ag(+) ions when fine Ag nanoparticles (less than about 10 nm in average diameter) were employed that release high concentrations of Ag(+) ions. In contrast, when relatively larger Ag nanoparticles were used, the concentration of the released Ag(+) ions was lower. Then the antibacterial activity of the released Ag(+) ions and nanosilver particles was comparable.

The presented microrobotic platform combines together the advantages of self-folding NIR light sensitive polymer bilayers, magnetic alginate microbeads, and a 3D manipulation system, to propose a solution for targeted, on-demand drug and cell delivery. First feasibility studies are presented together with the potential of the full design.

Gallic acid (GA) and its derivatives are natural polyphenolic substances widely used as antioxidants in nutrients, medicine and polymers. Here, nanoantioxidant materials are engineered by covalently grafting GA on SiO(2) nanoparticles (NPs). A proof-of-concept is provided herein, using four types of well-characterized SiO(2) NPs of specific surface area (SSA) 96-352 m(2)/g. All such hybrid SiO(2)-GA NPs had the same surface density of GA molecules (~1 GA per nm(2)). The radical-scavenging capacity (RSC) of the SiO(2)-GA NPs was quantified in comparison with pure GA based on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(•)) radical method, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The scavenging of DPPH radicals by these nanoantioxidant SiO(2)-GA NPs showed mixed-phase kinetics: An initial fast-phase (t(1/2) <1 min) corresponding to a H-Atom Transfer (HAT) mechanism, followed by a slow-phase attributed to secondary radical-radical reactions. The slow-reactions resulted in radical-induced NP agglomeration, that was more prominent for high-SSA NPs. After their interaction with DPPH radicals, the nanoantioxidant particles can be reused by simple washing with no impairment of their RSC.

Nanosilver is most attractive for its bactericidal properties in modern textiles, food packaging, and biomedical applications. Concerns, however, about released Ag(+) ions during dispersion of nanosilver in liquids have limited its broad use. Here, nanosilver supported on nanostructured silica is made with closely controlled Ag size both by dry (flame aerosol) and by wet chemistry (impregnation) processes without any surface functionalization that could interfere with its ion release. It is characterized by electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, and its Ag(+) ion release in deionized water is monitored electrochemically. The dispersion method of nanosilver in solutions affects its dissolution rate but not the final Ag(+) ion concentration. By systematically comparing nanosilver size distributions to their equilibrium Ag(+) ion concentrations, it is revealed that the latter correspond precisely to dissolution of one to two surface silver oxide monolayers, depending on particle diameter. When, however, the nanosilver is selectively conditioned by either washing or H(2) reduction, the oxide layers are removed, drastically minimizing Ag(+) ion leaching and its antibacterial activity against E. coli . That way the bactericidal activity of nanosilver is confined to contact with its surface rather than to rampant ions. This leads to silver nanoparticles with antibacterial properties that are essential for medical tools and hospital applications.

Silver nanoparticles (nanosilver) are broadly used today in textiles, food packaging, household devices and bioapplications, prompting a better understanding of their toxicity and biological interactions. In particular, the cytotoxicity of nanosilver with respect to mammalian cells remains unclear, because such investigations can be biased by the nanosilver coatings and the lack of particle size control. Here, nanosilver of well-defined size (5.7 to 20.4 nm) supported on inert nanostructured silica is produced using flame aerosol technology. The cytotoxicity of the prepared nanosilver with respect to murine macrophages is assessed in vitro because these cells are among the first to confront nanosilver upon its intake by mammals. The silica support facilitates the dispersion and stabilization of the prepared nanosilver in biological suspensions, and no other coating or functionalization is applied that could interfere with the biointeractions of nanosilver. Detailed characterization of the particles by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy reveals that the size of the nanosilver is well controlled. Smaller nanosilver particles release or leach larger fractions of their mass as Ag⁺ ions upon dispersion in water. This strongly influences the cytotoxicity of the nanosilver when incubated with murine macrophages. The size of the nanosilver dictates its mode of cytotoxicity (Ag⁺ ion-specific and/or particle-specific). The toxicity of small nanosilver (<10 nm) is mostly mediated by the released Ag⁺ ions. The influence of such ions on the toxicity of nanosilver decreases with increasing nanosilver size (>10 nm). Direct silver nanoparticle-macrophage interactions dominate the nanosilver toxicity at sizes larger than 10 nm.