Riboflavin-protected ultrasmall silver nanoclusters with enhanced antibacterial activity and the mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Developing silver nanomaterials with efficient antimicrobial properties is of importance for combating bacteria. Here, we report ultrasmall riboflavin-protected silver nanoclusters (RF@AgNCs) that can effectively kill or suppress the growth of Gram-positive S. aureus, Gram-negative E. coli, and fungi C. albicans. Riboflavin (RF) with intrinsic biocompatibility was used as a surface ligand to synthesize silver nanoclusters. TEM revealed that the synthesized RF@AgNCs were ultrasmall (2.4 ± 1.2 nm), spherical and well-dispersed. Antibacterial activity tests showed that RF@AgNCs possessed superior antibacterial efficacy in comparison with RF, AgNPs and mixed RF and AgNPs (RF + AgNPs). The mechanisms of antibacterial activity of RF@AgNCs were studied by fluorescence microsc

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9063772 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature