Print Email Facebook Twitter Can disc diffusion susceptibility tests assess the antimicrobial activity of engineered nanoparticles? Title Can disc diffusion susceptibility tests assess the antimicrobial activity of engineered nanoparticles? Author Kourmouli, A. (TU Delft ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage; University of the Aegean) Valenti, M. (TU Delft ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage) van Rijn, E. (TU Delft RID/KEWO/Stralingsbeschermingseenheid; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Beaumont, H.J.E. (TU Delft BN/Bertus Beaumont Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Kalantzi, Olga Ioanna (University of the Aegean) Schmidt-Ott, A. (TU Delft ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage) Biskos, G. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing; TU Delft Energie and Industrie; The Cyprus Institute) Date 2018 Abstract The use of disc diffusion susceptibility tests to determine the antibacterial activity of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is questionable because their low diffusivity practically prevents them from penetrating through the culture media. In this study, we investigate the ability of such a test, namely the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test, to determine the antimicrobial activity of Au and Ag ENPs having diameters from 10 to 40 nm on Escherichia coli cultures. As anticipated, the tests did not show any antibacterial effects of Au nanoparticles (NPs) as a result of their negligible diffusivity through the culture media. Ag NPs on the other hand exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity that was independent of their size. Considering that Ag, in contrast to Au, dissolves upon oxidation and dilution in aqueous solutions, the apparent antibacterial behavior of Ag NPs is attributed to the ions they release. The Kirby-Bauer method, and other similar tests, can therefore be employed to probe the antimicrobial activity of ENPs related to their ability to release ions rather than to their unique size-dependent properties. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. Subject Aerosol-based nanoparticle synthesisAntimicrobial activityDisc diffusion methodEngineered nanoparticlesGold nanoparticlesSilver nanoparticles To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7e2f0498-f4e3-49e3-8c91-23c0118a3f1b DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-018-4152-3 ISSN 1388-0764 Source Journal of Nanoparticle Research: an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology, 20 (3) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2018 A. Kourmouli, M. Valenti, E. van Rijn, H.J.E. Beaumont, Olga Ioanna Kalantzi, A. Schmidt-Ott, G. Biskos Files PDF 10.1007_s11051_018_4152_3.pdf 1.08 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:7e2f0498-f4e3-49e3-8c91-23c0118a3f1b/datastream/OBJ/view