Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide Matrices

Daily exposure to contaminated environments and surfaces leads to serious health issues, increasing healthcare costs. Active materials that act against pathogens can effectively prevent their proliferation and contribute to increased protection against infections. In this contribution, nanostructure...

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Main Authors: Cristina-Ștefania Gălbau, Mihaela Idomir, Cătălin Vițelaru, Adrian Emil Kiss, Anca Constantina Parau, Lidia Ruxandra Constantin, Mihaela Dinu, Iulian Pana, Alina Vlădescu (Dragomir), Elena Laura Gaman, Marius Alexandru Moga, Cătălin Mișarcă, Mihai Vârciu, Claudia Alexandrina Irimie, Mihaela Badea
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2599
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author Cristina-Ștefania Gălbau
Mihaela Idomir
Cătălin Vițelaru
Adrian Emil Kiss
Anca Constantina Parau
Lidia Ruxandra Constantin
Mihaela Dinu
Iulian Pana
Alina Vlădescu (Dragomir)
Elena Laura Gaman
Marius Alexandru Moga
Cătălin Mișarcă
Mihai Vârciu
Claudia Alexandrina Irimie
Mihaela Badea
author_facet Cristina-Ștefania Gălbau
Mihaela Idomir
Cătălin Vițelaru
Adrian Emil Kiss
Anca Constantina Parau
Lidia Ruxandra Constantin
Mihaela Dinu
Iulian Pana
Alina Vlădescu (Dragomir)
Elena Laura Gaman
Marius Alexandru Moga
Cătălin Mișarcă
Mihai Vârciu
Claudia Alexandrina Irimie
Mihaela Badea
author_sort Cristina-Ștefania Gălbau
collection DOAJ
description Daily exposure to contaminated environments and surfaces leads to serious health issues, increasing healthcare costs. Active materials that act against pathogens can effectively prevent their proliferation and contribute to increased protection against infections. In this contribution, nanostructured thin films containing silver are investigated, using SiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub> as transparent matrices to embed the Ag atoms. The thin transparent films were obtained via magnetron sputtering, using HiPIMS for Ag deposition and RF sputtering for oxides, in either an Ar or Ar/O<sub>2</sub> environment. Atomic Force Microscopy provided information on coating topography and the thin films’ preferential growth on the textured polymer foil, X-Ray Diffraction highlighted the structural difference between different versions, Ultraviolet–Visible–Near-Infrared spectroscopy proved the thin films’ optical quality and their transparency and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy revealed the composition changes for different processes. The effect of O<sub>2</sub> addition is analyzed and compared in terms of changes induced on the properties of the thin films. Following 24 h of incubation in a media containing 10<sup>4</sup> CFU/mL <i>Escherichia coli</i>, the TiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag sample with O<sub>2</sub> addition showed the highest antibacterial effectiveness, as indicated by the largest inhibition zone. Experiments on selective media showed a hierarchy of efficiency, namely, TiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag+O<sub>2</sub> > TiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag > SiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag.
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spelling doaj-art-1335532c42ca4fe18c52bcc690f58e852025-08-20T02:57:40ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01155259910.3390/app15052599Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide MatricesCristina-Ștefania Gălbau0Mihaela Idomir1Cătălin Vițelaru2Adrian Emil Kiss3Anca Constantina Parau4Lidia Ruxandra Constantin5Mihaela Dinu6Iulian Pana7Alina Vlădescu (Dragomir)8Elena Laura Gaman9Marius Alexandru Moga10Cătălin Mișarcă11Mihai Vârciu12Claudia Alexandrina Irimie13Mihaela Badea14Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, RomaniaDepartment of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, RomaniaDepartment of Biochemistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroilor Sanitari Bdv., 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, RomaniaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, RomaniaDepartment of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, RomaniaDepartment of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, RomaniaDepartment of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, RomaniaDaily exposure to contaminated environments and surfaces leads to serious health issues, increasing healthcare costs. Active materials that act against pathogens can effectively prevent their proliferation and contribute to increased protection against infections. In this contribution, nanostructured thin films containing silver are investigated, using SiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub> as transparent matrices to embed the Ag atoms. The thin transparent films were obtained via magnetron sputtering, using HiPIMS for Ag deposition and RF sputtering for oxides, in either an Ar or Ar/O<sub>2</sub> environment. Atomic Force Microscopy provided information on coating topography and the thin films’ preferential growth on the textured polymer foil, X-Ray Diffraction highlighted the structural difference between different versions, Ultraviolet–Visible–Near-Infrared spectroscopy proved the thin films’ optical quality and their transparency and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy revealed the composition changes for different processes. The effect of O<sub>2</sub> addition is analyzed and compared in terms of changes induced on the properties of the thin films. Following 24 h of incubation in a media containing 10<sup>4</sup> CFU/mL <i>Escherichia coli</i>, the TiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag sample with O<sub>2</sub> addition showed the highest antibacterial effectiveness, as indicated by the largest inhibition zone. Experiments on selective media showed a hierarchy of efficiency, namely, TiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag+O<sub>2</sub> > TiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag > SiO<sub>2</sub>+Ag.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2599antibacterial activity<i>Escherichia coli</i>magnetron sputteringHiPIMSreactive sputter deposition
spellingShingle Cristina-Ștefania Gălbau
Mihaela Idomir
Cătălin Vițelaru
Adrian Emil Kiss
Anca Constantina Parau
Lidia Ruxandra Constantin
Mihaela Dinu
Iulian Pana
Alina Vlădescu (Dragomir)
Elena Laura Gaman
Marius Alexandru Moga
Cătălin Mișarcă
Mihai Vârciu
Claudia Alexandrina Irimie
Mihaela Badea
Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide Matrices
Applied Sciences
antibacterial activity
<i>Escherichia coli</i>
magnetron sputtering
HiPIMS
reactive sputter deposition
title Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide Matrices
title_full Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide Matrices
title_fullStr Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide Matrices
title_full_unstemmed Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide Matrices
title_short Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in Transparent Oxide Matrices
title_sort preparation characterization and evaluation of the antibacterial activity of ag nanoparticles embedded in transparent oxide matrices
topic antibacterial activity
<i>Escherichia coli</i>
magnetron sputtering
HiPIMS
reactive sputter deposition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2599
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