Title: Antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles synthesised by electron beam irradiation

Authors: Rani M. Pattabi, Kandikere R. Sridhar, Srinath Gopakumar, Bhat Vinayachandra, Manjunatha Pattabi

Addresses: Department of Materials Science, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, 574 199, India. ' Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, 574 199, India. ' Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, 574 199, India. ' Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, 574 199, India. ' Department of Materials Science, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, 574 199, India

Abstract: Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesised by irradiating an aqueous solution of AgNO₃ in a bio-compatible polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with electrons from a microtron, at doses of 1 kGy and 2 kGy, has been evaluated against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Nanoparticles produced by electron beam irradiation (EBI) at 1 kGy showed significantly higher inhibitory effects than 2 kGy on Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae). The inhibition was highest on P. aeruginosa, while it was least on S. aureus. The particles generated at 1 kGy at 1,000 μg/ml concentration showed significantly lower number of colonies of P. aeruginosa against 100 μg/ml. Our study demonstrates that silver nanoparticles generated at 1 kGy irradiation dosage will be of immense value to produce broad spectrum bacteriostatic or bactericidal agents and needs further studies for clinical applications.

Keywords: silver nanoparticles; antibacterial activity; electron beam irradiation; EBI; microtron; polyvinyl alcohol; PVA; nanotechnology; radation dose; Escherichia coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumoniae; E. coli; bactericidal agents; bacteriostatic agents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2010.033221

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2010 Vol.3 No.1, pp.53 - 64

Published online: 13 May 2010 *

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