scholarly journals Durable Antimicrobial Behaviour from Silver-Graphene Coated Medical Textile Composites

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuruzzaman Noor ◽  
Suhas Mutalik ◽  
Muhammad Waseem Younas ◽  
Cheuk Ying Chan ◽  
Suman Thakur ◽  
...  

Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) and AgNP/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite impregnated medical grade polyviscose textile pads were formed using a facile, surface-mediated wet chemical solution-dipping process, without further annealing. Surfaces were sequentially treated in situ with a sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reducing agent, prior to formation, deposition, and fixation of Ag nanostructures and/or rGO nanosheets throughout porous non-woven (i.e., randomly interwoven) fibrous scaffolds. There was no need for stabilising agent use. The surface morphology of the treated fabrics and the reaction mechanism were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), and scanning electron microscopic (SEM). XRD and EDS confirmed the presence of pure-phase metallic silver. Variation of reducing agent concentration allowed control over characteristic plasmon absorption of AgNP while SEM imaging, EDS, and DLS confirmed the presence of and dispersion of Ag particles, with smaller agglomerates existing with concurrent rGO use, which also coincided with enhanced AgNP loading. The composites demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against the clinically relevant gram-negative Escherichia coli (a key causative bacterial agent of healthcare-associated infections; HAIs). The best antibacterial rate achieved for treated substrates was 100% with only a slight decrease (to 90.1%) after 12 equivalent laundering cycles of standard washing. Investigation of silver ion release behaviours through inductively coupled plasmon optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and laundering durability tests showed that AgNP adhesion was aided by the presence of the rGO host matrix allowing for robust immobilisation of silver nanostructures with relatively high stability, which offered a rapid, convenient, scalable route to conformal NP–decorated and nanocomposite soft matter coatings.

1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 604-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Liposits ◽  
T Görcs ◽  
K Trombitás

Serotonin immunoreactive structures of the rat central nervous system (CNS) were detected by the recently developed silver-intensified peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (SI-PAP) method at both the light and electron microscopic levels. The silver postintensification of the diaminobenzidine (DAB) chromogen increased the sensitivity of the original PAP method, resulting in a very Golgi-like appearance of serotonin-immunopositive neuronal elements. The metallic silver and gold deposited onto DAB-labeled organelles, filling out the whole immunoreactive neuron, assures the easy tracing of thin neuronal processes far from the cell body. At the ultrastructural level, metallic grains were seen over immunolabeled structures only, proving the specificity of the silver method. In neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus, free ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and granules (80-100 nm in diameter) were labeled. Immunoreactive, e.g., serotoninergic, dendrites were seen to receive afferent terminals. The increased electron density of the intensified immunolabel facilitates the ultrastructural recognition of even weakly labeled profiles, while its metallic components (Ag and Au) provide a base for X-ray analysis of the immunolabeled biological specimen.


Coatings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Sanchez ◽  
Carlos Castillo ◽  
Willy Cruz ◽  
Bryan Yauri ◽  
Miguel Sosa ◽  
...  

ZnO nanorods (NRs) films, nitrogen-doped (ZnO:N), and ZnO doped with nitrogen and decorated with silver nanostructures (ZnO:N-Ag) NRs films were vertically supported on undoped and N doped ZnO seed layers by a wet chemical method. The obtained films were characterized structurally by X-ray diffraction. Morphological and elemental analysis was performed by scanning electron microscopy, including an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy facility and their optical properties by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy. Analysis performed in the NRs films showed that the nitrogen content in the seed layer strongly affected their structure and morphology. The mean diameter of ZnO NRs ranged from 70 to 190 nm. As the nitrogen content in the seed layer increased, the mean diameter of ZnO:N NRs increased from 132 to 250 nm and the diameter dispersion decreased. This diameter increase occurs simultaneously with the incorporation of nitrogen into the ZnO crystal lattice and the increase in the volume of the unit cell, calculated using the X-ray diffraction patterns and confirmed by a slight shift in the XRD angle. The diffractograms indicated that the NRs have a hexagonal wurtzite structure, with preferential growth direction along the c axis. The SEM images confirmed the presence of metallic silver in the form of nanoparticles dispersed on the NRs films. Finally, the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in an aqueous solution was studied by UV-vis irradiation of NRs films contained in the bulk of aqueous MO solutions. We found a significant enhancement of the photocatalytic degradation efficiency, with ZnO:N-Ag NRs film being more efficient than ZnO:N NRs film, and the latter better than the ZnO NRs film.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 184798041983650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyesu Park ◽  
Shamim Ahmed Hira ◽  
Nallal Muthuchamy ◽  
Sungkyun Park ◽  
Kang Hyun Park

Silver nanostructures (silver nanopaerticles e.g AgNPs and silver nanoplates e.g AgNPls) of various sizes and shapes were prepared using different reducing agents in ionic liquid media. The ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, which acts both as a cosolvent and a surfactant, was used to synthesize smaller and more ordered silver nanostructures. Spherical nanoparticles (silver NPs) were prepared using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. On the other hand, plate-shaped silver nanostructures (silver NPls) were prepared using hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent. The as-synthesized silver nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The resulting materials were applied for the photodegradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. Because of their large surface area, the silver NPs showed better photocatalytic activity compared with that of Ag NPls.


Author(s):  
S. W. Hui ◽  
T. P. Stewart

Direct electron microscopic study of biological molecules has been hampered by such factors as radiation damage, lack of contrast and vacuum drying. In certain cases, however, the difficulties may be overcome by using redundent structural information from repeating units and by various specimen preservation methods. With bilayers of phospholipids in which both the solid and fluid phases co-exist, the ordering of the hydrocarbon chains may be utilized to form diffraction contrast images. Domains of different molecular packings may be recgnizable by placing properly chosen filters in the diffraction plane. These domains would correspond to those observed by freeze fracture, if certain distinctive undulating patterns are associated with certain molecular packing, as suggested by X-ray diffraction studies. By using an environmental stage, we were able to directly observe these domains in bilayers of mixed phospholipids at various temperatures at which their phases change from misible to inmissible states.


Author(s):  
Stuart McKernan ◽  
C. Barry Carter

The determination of the absolute polarity of a polar material is often crucial to the understanding of the defects which occur in such materials. Several methods exist by which this determination may be performed. In bulk, single-domain specimens, macroscopic techniques may be used, such as the different etching behavior, using the appropriate etchant, of surfaces with opposite polarity. X-ray measurements under conditions where Friedel’s law (which means that the intensity of reflections from planes of opposite polarity are indistinguishable) breaks down can also be used to determine the absolute polarity of bulk, single-domain specimens. On the microscopic scale, and particularly where antiphase boundaries (APBs), which separate regions of opposite polarity exist, electron microscopic techniques must be employed. Two techniques are commonly practised; the first [1], involves the dynamical interaction of hoLz lines which interfere constructively or destructively with the zero order reflection, depending on the crystal polarity. The crystal polarity can therefore be directly deduced from the relative intensity of these interactions.


Author(s):  
A. Angel ◽  
K. Miller ◽  
V. Seybold ◽  
R. Kriebel

Localization of specific substances at the ultrastructural level is dependent on the introduction of chemicals which will complex and impart an electron density at specific reaction sites. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase(PAP) methods have been successfully applied at the electron microscopic level. The PAP complex is localized by addition of its substrate, hydrogen peroxide and an electron donor, usually diaminobenzidine(DAB). On oxidation, DAB forms an insoluble polymer which is able to chelate with osmium tetroxide becoming electron dense. Since verification of reactivity is visual, discrimination of reaction product from osmiophillic structures may be difficult. Recently, x-ray microanalysis has been applied to examine cytochemical reaction precipitates, their distribution in tissues, and to study cytochemical reaction mechanisms. For example, immunoreactive sites labelled with gold have been ascertained by means of x-ray microanalysis.


Author(s):  
T.W. Jeng ◽  
W. Chiu

With the advances in preparing biological materials in a thin and highly ordered form, and in maintaining them hydrated under vacuum, electron crystallography has become an important tool for biological structure investigation at high resolution (1,2). However, the electron radiation damage would limit the capability of recording reflections with low intensities in an electron diffraction pattern. It has been demonstrated that the use of a low temperature stage can reduce the radiation damage effect and that one can expose the specimen with a higher dose in order to increase the signal contrast (3). A further improvement can be made by selecting a proper photographic emulsion. The primary factors in evaluating the suitability of photographic emulsion for recording low dose diffraction patterns are speed, fog level, electron response at low electron exposure, linearity, and usable range of exposure. We have compared these factors with three photographic emulsions including Kodak electron microscopic plate (EMP), Industrex AA x-ray film (AA x-ray) and Kodak nuclear track film (NTB3).


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 030006052098533
Author(s):  
Jing-Yuan Peng ◽  
Michael George Botelho ◽  
Jukka Pekka Matinlinna ◽  
Hao-Bo Pan ◽  
Edwin Kukk ◽  
...  

Objective The effects of saliva on demineralized dentin and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) were investigated in vitro. Methods Dentin samples stored in deionized water (DIW), buffer solution (BS), basal medium mucin (BMM), and unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) were demineralized for 3 days and immersed in the same storage media. SDF as a 38 mass% solution was applied to the dentin samples for 3 minutes after they had been replaced in their respective medium. Surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results Scanning electron microscopy showed various surface deposits and coatings, including occlusion of dentinal tubules. DIW resulted in the thinnest coating, whereas BMM resulted in the thickest. EDX and XPS showed the formation of metallic silver and silver compounds in all four media, with the greatest formation in BS. XRD indicated that the main product was silver chloride except in DIW. Sulphur was found in BMM and UWS. EDX and XPS detected fluoride and XRD detected calcium fluoride and fluorohydroxyapatite in BS, BMM, and UWS. Conclusion The interaction between SDF and demineralized dentin was dependent upon the storage medium. BMM provided an outcome most similar to human saliva.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 490
Author(s):  
Rudaviro Garidzirai ◽  
Phillimon Modisha ◽  
Innocent Shuro ◽  
Jacobus Visagie ◽  
Pieter van Helden ◽  
...  

The effects of Mg and Zn dopants on the catalytic performance of Pt/Al2O3 catalyst were investigated for dehydrogenation of perhydrodibenzyltoluene (H18-DBT) as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier. Al2O3 supports were modified with Mg and Zn to produce Mg-Al2O3 and Zn-Al2O3 with a target loading of 3.8 wt.% for dopants. The modified supports were impregnated with chloroplatinic acid solution to produce the catalysts Pt/Al2O3, Pt/Mg-Al2O3 and Pt/Zn-Al2O3 of 0.5 wt.% Pt loading. Thereafter, the catalysts were characterised using inductively coupled plasma- optical emission spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, carbon-monoxide pulse chemisorption, ammonia temperature-programmed desorption, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The dehydrogenation experiments were performed using a horizontal plug flow reactor system and the catalyst time-on-stream was 22 h. Pt/Mg-Al2O3 showed the highest average hydrogen flowrate of 29 nL/h, while an average of 27 nL/h was obtained for both Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/Zn-Al2O3. This has resulted in a hydrogen yield of 80% for Pt/Mg-Al2O3, 71% for Pt/Zn-Al2O3 and 73% for Pt/Al2O3. In addition, the conversion of H18-DBT ranges from 99% to 92%, Pt 97–90% and 96–90% for Pt/Mg-Al2O3, Pt/Zn-Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3, respectively. Following the latter catalyst order, the selectivity to dibenzyltoluene (H0-DBT) ranges from 78% to 57%, 75–51% and 71–45%. Therefore, Pt/Mg-Al2O3 showed improved catalytic performance towards dehydrogenation of H18-DBT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santanu Dey ◽  
Pradipta Chakraborty ◽  
Dhiraj Kumar Rana ◽  
Subhamay Pramanik ◽  
Soumen Basu

AbstractWe have synthesized carbon-supported silver (Ag/C) nanobars by a simple surfactant-free hydrothermal method using glucose as the reducing reagent as well as the source of carbon in Ag/C nanobars. Physicochemical characterization of the materials was performed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The XRD pattern confirmed the presence of a pure metallic silver phase. No carbon phase was detected, which indicates that the carbon exists mainly in the amorphous form. The electrocatalytic activity of Ag/C in different electrolyte solutions such as 0.5 M NaOH, 0.5 M NaOH + 1 M ethanol (EtOH), 0.5 M NaOH + 1 M ethylene glycol (EG), and 0.5 M NaOH + 0.01 M NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronoamperometry (CA) study. Alcohol tolerance of the catalysts was also established in the presence of ethanol and ethylene glycol. The forward-to-backward current ratio from cyclic voltammetry (CV) study of Ag/C-20 (20 h) in 0.5 M NaOH + 1 M ethanol solution at 100 mV s−1 scan rate is 4.13 times higher compared to that of Ag/C-5 (5 h). Hence, Ag/C-20 is a better candidate for the tolerance of ethanol. In the presence of ethylene glycol (1 M) in 0.5 M NaOH solution, it is obtained that the forward-to-backward current ratio at the same scan rate for Ag/C-20 is lower than that in the presence of ethanol. The durability of the catalyst was studied by chronoamperometry measurement. We studied the electrochemical kinetics of Ag/C catalysts for borohydride oxidation in an alkaline medium. The basic electrochemical results for borohydride oxidation show that Ag/C has very well strength and activity for direct borohydride oxidation in an alkaline medium. The reaction of borohydride oxidation with the contemporaneous BH4−. hydrolysis was noticed at the oxidized silver surface. Among all the synthesized Ag/C catalysts, Ag/C-20 exhibited the best electrocatalytic performance for borohydride oxidation in an alkaline medium. The activation energy and the number of exchange electrons at Ag/C-20 electrode surface for borohydride electro-oxidation were estimated as 57.2 kJ mol−1 and 2.27, respectively.


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