Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/106197
Title: Bactericidal mechanisms revealed for rapid water disinfection by superabsorbent cryogels decorated with silver nanoparticles
Authors: Fane, Anthony Gordon
Loo, Siew-Leng
Krantz, William B.
Gao, Yiben
Lim, Teik-Thye
Hu, Xiao
Keywords: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Microbiology::Bacteria
Issue Date: 2015
Source: Loo, S. L., Krantz, W. B., Fane, A. G., Gao, Y., Lim, T.-T., & Hu, X. (2015). Bactericidal mechanisms revealed for rapid water disinfection by superabsorbent cryogels decorated with silver nanoparticles. Environmental science & technology, 49(4), 2310-2318.
Series/Report no.: Environmental science & technology
Abstract: The authors have recently reported the fabrication of superabsorbent cryogels decorated with silver nanoparticles (PSA/AgNP cryogels) that demonstrate rapid water disinfection. This paper provides a systematic elucidation of the bactericidal mechanisms of AgNPs (silver nanoparticles), both generally and in the specific context of cryogels. Direct contact between the PSA/AgNP cryogel interface and the bacterial cells is required to accomplish disinfection. Specifically, the disinfection efficacy is closely correlated to the cell-bound Ag concentration, which constitutes >90% of the Ag released. Cells exposed to PSA/AgNP cryogels show a significant depletion of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and cell-membrane lesions. A positive ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging test confirms the involvement of ROS (·O2–, H2O2, and ·OH) in the bactericidal mechanism. Furthermore, exposed bacterial cells show an enhanced level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, indicating the occurrence of cell-membrane peroxidation mediated by ROS. In addition, this study reveals that both Ag+ and Ag0 are involved in the bactericidal mechanism of AgNPs via tests conducted using PSA cryogels with bound Ag+ ions (or PSA/Ag+ cryogels without reducing Ag+ to Ag0). Significantly, bacterial cells exposed to PSA/Ag+ cryogels did not show any cell-membrane damage even though the former had a higher cell-bound Ag concentration than that of the PSA/AgNP cryogels, thus indicating the differential action of Ag+ and Ag0.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/106197
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/34459
ISSN: 0013-936X
DOI: 10.1021/es5048667
Schools: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering 
School of Materials Science & Engineering 
Research Centres: Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute 
Rights: © 2015 American Chemical Society (ACS). This is the author created version of a work that has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by Environmental Science & Technology, American Chemical Society (ACS). It incorporates referee’s comments but changes resulting from the publishing process, such as copyediting, structural formatting, may not be reflected in this document. The published version is available at: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es5048667].
Fulltext Permission: open
Fulltext Availability: With Fulltext
Appears in Collections:CEE Journal Articles
MSE Journal Articles
NEWRI Journal Articles

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