Biological activity of sulfur nanoparticles in the sulfur-dimethyl sulfoxide-water system

Abstract

For the first time a sulfur solution in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with concentration of 1.592 g/L [1] was used to prepare sulfur nanoparticles (nanosulfur). Synthesis and stabilization of colloidal sulfur particles was carried out at 298K (25°C) by diluting the sulfur solution in DMSO with water 10 to 1000 times. The stable sizes of nanosulfur measured by dynamic light scattering were ~ 100 nm. The results were confirmed both qualitatively and quantitatively using X-ray and electron microscopy methods. The antibacterial activity of the nanosulfur on the phytopathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora and fungus Fusarium solani was tested.