The metal nanoparticles have better antimicrobial activity

Jyoti Mayekar

Hi,

It is not possible to just conclude which (metal or metal oxide nanoparticles) are better for antimicrobial activity. There are lots of properties, chemistries to be considered even their toxicity to human cells.

Research has shown that size, shape, surface area, charge density, electronic state and optical characters play a significant role in evaluating the antimicrobial potency of the metal/metal oxide NPs. Even though metal NPs like Cu, Au have shown remarkable antibacterial activities their consumption is questionable, unlike MgO NPs which also show excellent antibacterial activity. MgO is used in magnesium dietary supplements and many different types of medications. At relatively low concentrations, MgO was not observed to be toxic to human cells. The lack of toxicity and the precedence of ingestion via dietary supplements reinforce the concept of MgO NPs in food packaging.

Also, unlike Metal NPs, Metal oxide NPs elicit diverse physiochemical and functional properties, such as magnetic, mechanical, electrical, and optical characteristics.

To compare the antibacterial efficiency of Metal/Metal oxide NPs, you can prepare the same M/MeO Nps (e.g Cu/CuO or Ag/AgO NPs) of the same size, shape and used for the same type of bacterial strains.

Attached is my recent work on MeO Nps:

Engineered mixed oxide-based polymeric composites for enhanced antimicrobial activity and sustained release of antiretroviral drug

Dear Jyoti

Both metal and metal oxide NPs have been extensively studied for their antibacterial activities. Also they have been studied in both pure form or mixed with other materials to enhance their antibacterial activities. Each of the metal and metal oxides NPs have their pros and cons which makes it difficult to judge which one is preferable.

I think more research is required to be done to shed more light on this important isue. For the time being, you can get a lot of information about the antibacterial activities of various metals and matal oxides NPs in the literature and then you can make your mind which of them is more interesting for you.

Jyoti Mayekar

Mohammad Kooti right .The common feature of all nanoparticles with antibacterial and antifungicidal action is significant adsorption due to the large specific surface area. Further, the specificity of the interaction of the metal and oxide with the biological material is observed. Compare this action yourself in the attached article.

Chapter Evaluation of Stimulatory, Antifungal and Thermo-Resistant A...

Large surface to volume ratio of NP is not the reason of anti microbial activity. Gold nanoparticles do not have antimicrobial properties even in mM concentration. Silver metal itself has anti microbial properties. AgNP basically alters the membrane potential, affects the ion channels and this the major cause of cell death. Some studies showed that AgNP induces apoptotic cell death etc. Most of the metal oxides are involved in the generation of ROS. Therefore, every particle has their unique style.