Oxidative dissolution of silver nanoparticles
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) act primarily through a process known as oxidative dissolution, wherein Ag+ ions are released through an oxidative mechanism. AgNPs have potentially vast applications within the fields of medicine, science, and food and drug industries due to their antimicrobial properties, low cytotoxicity in humans, and inexpensive cost.
Mechanism
Silver is stable in water and needs an oxidizing element to achieve oxidative dissolution. When oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen are present, they dissolute AgNPs to release Ag+. The release of Ag+ leads to creation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside cells, which can further dissolute the nanoparticles. Some nano silver particles develop protective Ag3OH surface groups [1] and it is thought that dissolution removes these groups and forms oxygen radicals, which attenuate reactivity of the AgNPs by entering into the lattice to form a highly stable Ag6O octahedral structure.[1] It has been thought AgNP efficacy can mainly be attributed to shape, as nanoprisms and naorods have proven more active than nanospheres because they possess more highly exposed facets, thus leading to a faster release of Ag+ ions.
Environmental factors
Environmental factors that play a role in particle dissolution:
Synthesis
AgNPs are synthesized using microwave irradiation,[4] gamma irradiation [6] UV activation,[7] or conventional heating [8] of the precursor silver nitrate, AgNO3 using an alginate solution as a stabilizing and reducing agent.[4][9] The carboxyl or hydroxyl groups on the alginate reagent form complexes during the synthesis of the AgNPs that stabilize the reaction.[4] Nanoparticle size and shape can be specified by changing the ratio of alginate to silver nitrate used and/or the pH.[4] A coating such as PVP may be added to the nanoparticles by heating and subsequent slow cooling.[3]
Kinetics
Stopped-flow spectrometry has been used to characterize the chemical mechanism and kinetics of AgNPs. Oxidative dissolution of AgNPs has been shown to be a first order reaction with respect to both silver and hydrogen peroxide and is independent of particle size.[5]
Antimicrobial activity
Antibacterial,[10][11] antiviral [12] and anti-fungal [13] properties have been investigated in response to AgNP dissolution. Antibacterial activities of AgNPs are much stronger in oxygenic conditions than anoxic conditions.[10][14][15][16][17] Through their oxidative dissolution in biological systems, AgNPs can target important biomolecules such as “DNA, peptides, and cofactors” as well as absorb into nonspecific moieties and simultaneously disrupt several metabolic pathways.[10] They have been known to act as a bridging agent between thiols, to have affinity for organic amines and phosphates.[18] The combination of silver ions’ reaction with biomolecules with oxidative stress, ultimately leads to toxicity in biological environment.[19]
Inhibition of nitrification
Oxidative dissolution of AgNPs, which gives rise to Ag+, potentially inhibits nitrification within Ammonia oxidizing bacteria. A key step in nitrification is the oxidation of ammonia to hydroxylamine (NH2OH) catalyzed by the enzyme ammonia monooxyganase (AMO).[20] The enzymatic activity of AMO is highly vulnerable to interference due to its intracytoplasmic location and its abundance of copper. It is speculated that Ag+ ions from AgNPs interfere with AMO’s copper bonds by replacing copper with Ag+ causing a decrease in enzymatic activity, and thus nitrification.[21]
References
- Molleman, Bastiaan, and Tjisse Hiemstra. "Surface Structure of Silver Nanoparticles as a Model for Understanding the Oxidative Dissolution of Silver Ions." Langmuir 31.49 (2015): 13361-3372.
- Ho, Ching-Ming, Sammi King Woo Yau, Chun-Nam Lok, Man-Ho So, and Chi-Ming Che. "Oxidative Dissolution of Silver Nanoparticles by Biologically Relevant Oxidants: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study." Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 8 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.
- Loza, K., J. Diendorf, C. Sengstock, L. Ruiz-Gonzalez, J.M. Gonzalez-Calbet, M. Vallet-Regi, M. Koller, and M. Epple. "The Dissolution and Biological Effects of Silver Nanoparticles in Biological Media." Royal Society of Chemistry, 2014.
- Foliatini,, F. ,, Yoki Yulizar, and Mas Ayu Hafizah. "The Synthesis of Alginate-Capped Silver Nanoparticles under Microwave Irradiation." . Journal of Mathematical and Fundamental Sciences. Vol 47, No 1 (2015)
- Ho, Chi-Ming, Sammi King-Woon Yau, Chun-Nam Lok, Man-Ho So, and Chi-Ming Che. "Oxidative Dissolution of Silver Nanoparticles by Biologically Relevant Oxidants: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study." Chem. Asian J. Chemistry - An Asian Journal 5.2 (2010): 285-93. Web.
- Liu, Y., Chen, S., Zhong, L. & Wu, G., Preparation of High-Stable Silver Nanoparticle Dispersion by using Sodium Alginate as a Stabilizer under Gamma Radiation, Radiat. Phys. Chem., 78(4), pp. 251-255, 2009.
- Saha, S., Pal, A., Kundu, S., Basu, S. & Pal, T., Photochemical Green Synthesis of Calcium-Alginate-Stabilized Ag and Au Nanoparticles and their Catalytic Application To 4-Nitrophenol Reduction, Langmuir, 26(4), pp. 2885-2893, 2010.
- Chen, P., Zhang, X., Miao, Z., Han, B., An, G. & Liu, Z., In-situ Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanoparticles in Alginate Solution and their Application in Catalysis, J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol., 9(4), pp. 2628-2633, 2009.
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- Ouay, Benjamin Le, and Francesco Stellacci. "Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles: A Surface Science Insight." Nano Today 10.3 (2015): 339-54. Web.
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- Thurman, R. B.; Gerba, C. P.; Bitton, G.The molecular mechanisms of copper and silver ion disinfection of bacteria and viruses Crit. Rev. Environ. Control 1989, 18 ( 4) 295– 315