Monodispersed biocompatible silver sulfide nanoparticles: Facile extracellular biosynthesis using the γ-proteobacterium, Shewanella oneidensis

Anil K. Suresh, Mitchel J. Doktycz, Wei Wang, Ji Won Moon, Baohua Gu, Harry M. Meyer, Dale K. Hensley, David P. Allison, Tommy J. Phelps, Dale A. Pelletier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

146 Scopus citations

Abstract

Interest in engineered metal and semiconductor nanocrystallites continues to grow due to their unique size- and shape-dependent optoelectronic, physicochemical and biological properties. Therefore identifying novel non-hazardous nanoparticle synthesis routes that address hydrophilicity, size and shape control and production costs has become a priority. In the present article we report for the first time on the efficient generation of extracellular silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles by the metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis. The particles are reasonably monodispersed and homogeneously shaped. They are produced under ambient temperatures and pressures at high yield, 85% theoretical maximum. UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed the formation, optical and surface properties, purity and crystallinity of the synthesized particles. Further characterization revealed that the particles consist of spheres with a mean diameter of 9 ± 3.5 nm, and are capped by a detachable protein/peptide surface coat. Toxicity assessments of these biogenic Ag2S nanoparticles on Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and S. oneidensis) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacterial systems, as well as eukaryotic cell lines including mouse lung epithelial (C 10) and macrophage (RAW-264.7) cells, showed that the particles were non-inhibitory and non-cytotoxic to any of these systems. Our results provide a facile, eco-friendly and economical route for the fabrication of technologically important semiconducting Ag2S nanoparticles. These particles are dispersible and biocompatible, thus providing excellent potential for use in optical imaging, electronic devices and solar cell applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4253-4258
Number of pages6
JournalActa Biomaterialia
Volume7
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011

Funding

This research was accomplished with support from the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy (DOE). Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the US DOE under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. XPS measurements were conducted at the High Temperature Materials Laboratory, supported by ORNL’s Shared Research Equipment (SHaRE) User Facility, which is sponsored by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US Department of Energy. A portion of this research was conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is sponsored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US Department of Energy. The authors acknowledge Scott T. Retterer for providing the eukaryotic cell lines.

Keywords

  • Biocompatible
  • Biofabrication
  • Monodisperse
  • Shewanella

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