# A Study of Antibioactivity of Nanosilver Colloid and Silver Ion Solution

Authors: Kuo-Hsiung Tseng; Heng-Lin Lee; Der-Chi Tien; Ya-Lan Tang; Yi-Syuan Kao
Journal: Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
 (2014)

---

## Abstract

The colloidal silver solution was successfully prepared in dielectric fluid by using electrical spark discharge (ESD) without any surfactants. It does not require the toxic chemical agents in the process, which may affect the effectiveness of nanosilver colloid as an antibacterial agent. Nanocolloidal silver produced by ESD is characterized as low cost, zero environmental pollution, continuous, and rapid mass production process. In order to test the effect of antibioactivity, nanosilver dough was tested; the silver nanofluid was prepared by ESD machine, made into dough at different concentrations, and fermented for three hours in order to observe changes in the diameter of the dough. The results showed that the effect of effectiveness of nanosilver at the concentration of 100 ppm was weak, whereas the effect of 60 ppm silver ion (100 ppm AgNO3) was significant, as the dissociation rate of silver ion concentration correlates to the antibioactivity.


---

## Body

## 1. Introduction

Using ESD to prepare nanoproducts is a feasible method, which can process super hard materials (electrodischarge machining equipment) in the earliest stages. Traditional electric discharge machining (EDM) places the tool electrode and work piece in an insulating working fluid and applies DC voltage to the two poles. In recent years, nanotechnology has developed rapidly, and the research of ESD has focused on the characteristics and applications of nanoparticles or fluid in dielectric fluid [1]. For ESD processing, a set of continuous preparation methods has been developed [2–4], which can effectively be applied to mass production and further developed toward nanotechnology applications. The heat generated by ESD melts the surface of the electrode into metal particles or charged ions and then sputters and dissolves them in the dielectric fluid [5].As a result of the abuse of antibiotics, bacterial resistance has continued to increase, thereby decreasing the antibiotic potency. Hence, efforts have been made in seeking alternative traditional antibacterial materials. Among the new antibacterial materials, silver nanoparticles and silver ion are the rising stars for resisting bacteria in the postantibiotic era, especially silver ion, which dominates sterilization. Recent studies have found that some metal ions have oxidative antibiosis, and the descending order of oxidizing power is Ag > Cu > Cr > Ni > Zn > Fe. As positively charged silver ion has the best reducing force, it is oxidized by oxygen (O) to generate oxyanion free radicals with a bactericidal mechanism. Silver is an efficient antibacterial material that has long been studied [6–8], as it can inhibit fungi, viruses, and bacteria [9–15]. Literature [16] found that 20 ppm silver ion is required to fightStaphylococcus aureus. In biomedical materials, silver nanoparticles can dissociate silver ions [17–21] and enter cell membranes at low concentrations, thus reducing the enzyme activity in bacteria and obstructing biochemical synthesis to result in antibacterial action.


## 2. Research Method and Process

### 2.1. Preparation of Nanosilver by Electrical Spark

The metal nanoparticles were chemically prepared previously, with an added suspending agent to control nanoparticle size and concentration. This study used ESD to split silver material into nanosized particles by arc discharge. The process was free from chemical agents. Only the Pure solutions were prepared such as deionized water or alcohol as the medium. The silver nanoparticles suspending in the dielectric fluid were prepared by setting voltage and current parameters and selecting TON-TOFF. Easy and mass production is available without pollution, which contributes greatly to the preparation of nanomaterials. However, the characteristics of nanocolloid are closely related to the electrical discharge parameters. During discharge the voltage, current, dielectric fluid, and ambient temperature influenced the concentration of nanosilver colloid and particles size. And silver rod with purity of 99.9% was selected as the target. The system framework is as shown in Figure 1.Figure 1
ESD nanosilver preparation system framework.


### 2.2. Silver Nanofluid Product Analysis

#### 2.2.1. UV-Vis

UV absorption spectrogram analysis shows the light, among all wavebands from UV to infrared, has resonant effect with water phase nanosilver particles. As different materials have different resonance spectra, the resonance spectrum can be effectively used to prove and analyze for silver material. As shown in Figure2, the resonance point of water phase nanosilver is at 393 nm.Figure 2
UV absorption spectrogram of water phase nanosilver.


#### 2.2.2. Nanosizer

The particle distribution of nanofluid was measured by ZS-90 equipment by the Malvern Company. Using this equipment the particle distribution of nanofluid can be known within a few minutes. Figure3 shows the analysis result of water phase nanosilver prepared by ESD. This equipment is useful in this research due to rapid analysis and low cost.Figure 3
Particle size distribution of water phase nanosilver.


#### 2.2.3. Surface Potential Analysis

According to the surface potential in Figure4, the silver nanoparticle surface had −39.3 mV voltage, and this voltage determined the dispersibility and suspending power of the silver nanofluid. The produced nanoparticles were nanoscale particles; however, under interparticle Van der Waals force and universal gravitation, any particles approaching each other would gather into large particles, which sink when attracted by universal gravitation.Figure 4
Surface potential of water phase nanosilver.When the surface potential of nanoparticle was greater than 30 mV. Exhibit good dispersibility and suspending power. Therefore, silver nanofluid produced by the electric spark method had −39.3 mV voltage, with excellent suspending and dispersion power, and can be preserved for the long term at normal temperature and pressure.


#### 2.2.4. SEM and EDX

The SEM photo shows the silver nanoparticles in pure water with particle size of about 20 nm, as shown in Figure5. Then in the EDX component analysis, as shown in Figure 6, the particles were composed of nanosilver.Figure 5
SEM photo of nanosilver prepared using pure water.Figure 6
EDX component analysis of nanosilver prepared using pure water.


## 2.1. Preparation of Nanosilver by Electrical Spark

The metal nanoparticles were chemically prepared previously, with an added suspending agent to control nanoparticle size and concentration. This study used ESD to split silver material into nanosized particles by arc discharge. The process was free from chemical agents. Only the Pure solutions were prepared such as deionized water or alcohol as the medium. The silver nanoparticles suspending in the dielectric fluid were prepared by setting voltage and current parameters and selecting TON-TOFF. Easy and mass production is available without pollution, which contributes greatly to the preparation of nanomaterials. However, the characteristics of nanocolloid are closely related to the electrical discharge parameters. During discharge the voltage, current, dielectric fluid, and ambient temperature influenced the concentration of nanosilver colloid and particles size. And silver rod with purity of 99.9% was selected as the target. The system framework is as shown in Figure 1.Figure 1
ESD nanosilver preparation system framework.


## 2.2. Silver Nanofluid Product Analysis

### 2.2.1. UV-Vis

UV absorption spectrogram analysis shows the light, among all wavebands from UV to infrared, has resonant effect with water phase nanosilver particles. As different materials have different resonance spectra, the resonance spectrum can be effectively used to prove and analyze for silver material. As shown in Figure2, the resonance point of water phase nanosilver is at 393 nm.Figure 2
UV absorption spectrogram of water phase nanosilver.


### 2.2.2. Nanosizer

The particle distribution of nanofluid was measured by ZS-90 equipment by the Malvern Company. Using this equipment the particle distribution of nanofluid can be known within a few minutes. Figure3 shows the analysis result of water phase nanosilver prepared by ESD. This equipment is useful in this research due to rapid analysis and low cost.Figure 3
Particle size distribution of water phase nanosilver.


### 2.2.3. Surface Potential Analysis

According to the surface potential in Figure4, the silver nanoparticle surface had −39.3 mV voltage, and this voltage determined the dispersibility and suspending power of the silver nanofluid. The produced nanoparticles were nanoscale particles; however, under interparticle Van der Waals force and universal gravitation, any particles approaching each other would gather into large particles, which sink when attracted by universal gravitation.Figure 4
Surface potential of water phase nanosilver.When the surface potential of nanoparticle was greater than 30 mV. Exhibit good dispersibility and suspending power. Therefore, silver nanofluid produced by the electric spark method had −39.3 mV voltage, with excellent suspending and dispersion power, and can be preserved for the long term at normal temperature and pressure.


### 2.2.4. SEM and EDX

The SEM photo shows the silver nanoparticles in pure water with particle size of about 20 nm, as shown in Figure5. Then in the EDX component analysis, as shown in Figure 6, the particles were composed of nanosilver.Figure 5
SEM photo of nanosilver prepared using pure water.Figure 6
EDX component analysis of nanosilver prepared using pure water.


## 2.2.1. UV-Vis

UV absorption spectrogram analysis shows the light, among all wavebands from UV to infrared, has resonant effect with water phase nanosilver particles. As different materials have different resonance spectra, the resonance spectrum can be effectively used to prove and analyze for silver material. As shown in Figure2, the resonance point of water phase nanosilver is at 393 nm.Figure 2
UV absorption spectrogram of water phase nanosilver.


## 2.2.2. Nanosizer

The particle distribution of nanofluid was measured by ZS-90 equipment by the Malvern Company. Using this equipment the particle distribution of nanofluid can be known within a few minutes. Figure3 shows the analysis result of water phase nanosilver prepared by ESD. This equipment is useful in this research due to rapid analysis and low cost.Figure 3
Particle size distribution of water phase nanosilver.


## 2.2.3. Surface Potential Analysis

According to the surface potential in Figure4, the silver nanoparticle surface had −39.3 mV voltage, and this voltage determined the dispersibility and suspending power of the silver nanofluid. The produced nanoparticles were nanoscale particles; however, under interparticle Van der Waals force and universal gravitation, any particles approaching each other would gather into large particles, which sink when attracted by universal gravitation.Figure 4
Surface potential of water phase nanosilver.When the surface potential of nanoparticle was greater than 30 mV. Exhibit good dispersibility and suspending power. Therefore, silver nanofluid produced by the electric spark method had −39.3 mV voltage, with excellent suspending and dispersion power, and can be preserved for the long term at normal temperature and pressure.


## 2.2.4. SEM and EDX

The SEM photo shows the silver nanoparticles in pure water with particle size of about 20 nm, as shown in Figure5. Then in the EDX component analysis, as shown in Figure 6, the particles were composed of nanosilver.Figure 5
SEM photo of nanosilver prepared using pure water.Figure 6
EDX component analysis of nanosilver prepared using pure water.


## 3. Experimental Results and Discussion

Both the nanosilver colloid by the ESD and AgNO3 solution is prepared for making the comparison of antibioactivity potency test. Two tests were conducted: (1) experiment on antibioactivity of nanosilver for yeast and (2) experiment on antibioactivity of AgNO3 for yeast.


### 3.1. Experiment on Antibioactivity of Nanosilver for Yeast

As moisture evaporates during fermentation, a petri dish with a cap was placed on the top of the dough to guarantee weight accuracy. Nanosilver at different concentrations was added in the dough and compared with dough without nanosilver. The result is as shown in Figure7: (a) before fermentation of dough with only water and yeast, (b) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with only water and yeast, (c) before fermentation of dough with 20 ppm nanosilver, (d) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 20 ppm nanosilver, (e) before fermentation of dough with 40 ppm nanosilver, (f) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 40 ppm nanosilver, (g) before fermentation of dough with 80 ppm nanosilver, (h) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 80 ppm nanosilver, (i) before fermentation of dough with 100 ppm nanosilver, and (j) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 100 ppm nanosilver.Figure 7
Experiment on antibioactivity of nanosilver for yeast.It is found that the four groups of dough had similar degrees of fermentation, with the comparison as shown in Figure8 and Table 1. Moreover, the antibioactive potency was poor, which may be due to insufficient dissociation rate of silver atom released from silver nanoparticle.Table 1
Experimental result of antibioactive effect of nanosilver.
Dough diameter
Doughcomposition
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(0 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(20 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(40 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(80 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(100 ppm)
Before fermentation (cm)
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.1
3.2
After fermentation (cm)
4.5
4
4
4.5
4.5Figure 8
Experimental result of antibioactive effect of nanosilver.


### 3.2. Experiment on Antibioactivity of AgNO3 for Yeast Fermentation

AgNO3 exhibit high ionic mobility in water solution due to high soluble property. The experiment on the antibioactivity of dough with AgNO3 for the yeast is as shown in Figure 9, (a) dough without AgNO3 and with yeast, (b) after 3-hour fermentation of dough without AgNO3 and with yeast, (c) dough with 100 ppm AgNO3 and yeast, (d) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 100 ppm AgNO3 and yeast, (e) dough with 200 ppm AgNO3 and yeast, and (f) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 200 ppm AgNO3 and yeast. The results showed that while dough with 100 ppm AgNO3 was still fermented, its diameter increased by only 0.2 cm, suggesting that the antibioactivity of Ag+ (60 ppm) was significant. Dough with 200 ppm AgNO3 was not fermented; the reason is that the 120 ppm Ag+ had killed the yeast completely. Figure 9 and Table 2 show the comparison, suggesting that the silver ion has excellent antibioactivity effect.Table 2
Experimental result of antibioactivity effect of Ag+.
Dough diameter
Doughcomposition
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Ag+ (0 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Ag+ (60 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Ag+ (120 ppm)
Before fermentation (cm)
3.3
3.2
3.1
After fermentation (cm)
4.8
3.4
3Figure 9
Experiment on antibioactivity of AgNO3 for yeast.The experimental results show that, in the antibioactivity of nanosilver colloid prepared by ESD, the Ag+ was more effective than silver nanoparticles at the same concentration (Figure 10). The possibility of dissociation capability of silver nanoparticles can be further explored to promote antibioactivity. In addition,Staphylococcus aureus had 2.8 million ~2.903 million base pairs and 2,600 genes, whileEscherichia coli had 4.6 million base pairs and 4,000~5,500 genes. The yeast for fermentation had 120 million base pairs and 6,275 genes. Theoretically, the unicellular organisms with more genomes are more powerful to resist the Ag+. Therefore, if nanosilver colloid can eradicate yeast, it can exterminateStaphylococcus aureus andEscherichia coliwith less concentration.Figure 10
Experimental result of antibioactivity of Ag+.


## 3.1. Experiment on Antibioactivity of Nanosilver for Yeast

As moisture evaporates during fermentation, a petri dish with a cap was placed on the top of the dough to guarantee weight accuracy. Nanosilver at different concentrations was added in the dough and compared with dough without nanosilver. The result is as shown in Figure7: (a) before fermentation of dough with only water and yeast, (b) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with only water and yeast, (c) before fermentation of dough with 20 ppm nanosilver, (d) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 20 ppm nanosilver, (e) before fermentation of dough with 40 ppm nanosilver, (f) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 40 ppm nanosilver, (g) before fermentation of dough with 80 ppm nanosilver, (h) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 80 ppm nanosilver, (i) before fermentation of dough with 100 ppm nanosilver, and (j) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 100 ppm nanosilver.Figure 7
Experiment on antibioactivity of nanosilver for yeast.It is found that the four groups of dough had similar degrees of fermentation, with the comparison as shown in Figure8 and Table 1. Moreover, the antibioactive potency was poor, which may be due to insufficient dissociation rate of silver atom released from silver nanoparticle.Table 1
Experimental result of antibioactive effect of nanosilver.
Dough diameter
Doughcomposition
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(0 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(20 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(40 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(80 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Nanosilver(100 ppm)
Before fermentation (cm)
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.1
3.2
After fermentation (cm)
4.5
4
4
4.5
4.5Figure 8
Experimental result of antibioactive effect of nanosilver.


## 3.2. Experiment on Antibioactivity of AgNO3 for Yeast Fermentation

AgNO3 exhibit high ionic mobility in water solution due to high soluble property. The experiment on the antibioactivity of dough with AgNO3 for the yeast is as shown in Figure 9, (a) dough without AgNO3 and with yeast, (b) after 3-hour fermentation of dough without AgNO3 and with yeast, (c) dough with 100 ppm AgNO3 and yeast, (d) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 100 ppm AgNO3 and yeast, (e) dough with 200 ppm AgNO3 and yeast, and (f) after 3-hour fermentation of dough with 200 ppm AgNO3 and yeast. The results showed that while dough with 100 ppm AgNO3 was still fermented, its diameter increased by only 0.2 cm, suggesting that the antibioactivity of Ag+ (60 ppm) was significant. Dough with 200 ppm AgNO3 was not fermented; the reason is that the 120 ppm Ag+ had killed the yeast completely. Figure 9 and Table 2 show the comparison, suggesting that the silver ion has excellent antibioactivity effect.Table 2
Experimental result of antibioactivity effect of Ag+.
Dough diameter
Doughcomposition
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Ag+ (0 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Ag+ (60 ppm)
Water (5 g)+yeast (4 wt%)+Ag+ (120 ppm)
Before fermentation (cm)
3.3
3.2
3.1
After fermentation (cm)
4.8
3.4
3Figure 9
Experiment on antibioactivity of AgNO3 for yeast.The experimental results show that, in the antibioactivity of nanosilver colloid prepared by ESD, the Ag+ was more effective than silver nanoparticles at the same concentration (Figure 10). The possibility of dissociation capability of silver nanoparticles can be further explored to promote antibioactivity. In addition,Staphylococcus aureus had 2.8 million ~2.903 million base pairs and 2,600 genes, whileEscherichia coli had 4.6 million base pairs and 4,000~5,500 genes. The yeast for fermentation had 120 million base pairs and 6,275 genes. Theoretically, the unicellular organisms with more genomes are more powerful to resist the Ag+. Therefore, if nanosilver colloid can eradicate yeast, it can exterminateStaphylococcus aureus andEscherichia coliwith less concentration.Figure 10
Experimental result of antibioactivity of Ag+.


## 4. Conclusions

The colloidal silver solution was successfully prepared using ESD without any surfactants, which is different from the traditional chemical process with some toxic chemical agents that may influence the antibioactivity efficacy of colloidal silver experiment. The properties of the self-made nanosilver colloid were analyzed and antibioactivity was tested and concluded, as follows.(1)
According to the particle distribution analysis of water phase nanosilver, the particle size of nanosilver colloid was about 30~50 nm.(2)
According to surface potential detection, the silver nanoparticle surface had −39.3 mV voltage, and the surface potential was greater than 30 mV; thus, suspension stability was excellent. It is unlikely to deposit at normal temperature and pressure.(3)
The silver nanofluid prepared by ESD had poor antibioactivity due to too low dissociation rate of Ag0, and even if the concentration of nanosilver in the dough increased from 20 ppm to 100 ppm (the highest concentration in this study), it cannot fight against yeast.(4)
The yeast used in this experiment could not resist 100 ppm AgNO3, which is equivalent to 60 ppm silver ion. Previous literature proved thatStaphylococcus aureus could not resist Ag+ by 20 ppm silver ion; thus, the resistance to silver ion of yeast is about 3 times that ofStaphylococcus aureus due to the fact that assumption of genes number of the yeast is three times larger than the genes number of theStaphylococcus aureus.



---

*Source: 371483-2014-09-14.xml*