Mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles containing Ag ion with excellent antimicrobial activity at remarkable low silver concentrations.

Mesoporous Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles with TiO2 homogenous anatase crystalline phase was synthesized using a one-pot sol-gel method. The sample was calcined at 100 degrees C and characterized by XRD, HR TEM, EDAX, IR spectroscopy, DRS, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The BET surface area of the sample was 266 m2/g and the crystallite size as calculated using Scherrer formula was 3.76 nm. The Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cultures and Candida albicans. Complete inhibition of microorganisms was achieved at a very low Ag-TiO2 concentration, in the range of 1.0 to 20 microg/mL (effective Ag concentrations were 11.7 to 234 ppb) in less than 2 h under ambient conditions, without the requirement of photoactivation. Silver ion release studies showed that about 18% of silver ions were present in solution. Thus, it may be inferred that the antimicrobial activity is due to Ag ions released from the TiO2 matrix. The mesoporous nature and antimicrobial activity at low concentrations without photoactivation are important aspects which make this material an excellent candidate for potential application as disinfectant and/or antimicrobial agent.