Enhanced antibacterial activity by silver nanoparticles-doped NiCo2O4 nanosheets for the application of antibiotic resistance

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has increased to dangerous levels across the globe. A growing list of bacterial infections that lead to blood poisoning or foodborne disease now represent a clinical challenge due to the loss of antibiotic efficacy. Studies on the antibacterial performance of Ag nanoparticles and other transitional metal oxides have gained attention as alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, NiCo2O4 and Ag/NiCo2O4 composites of different Ag content were synthesized through a simple co-precipitation method and assessed through transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. We found that the morphology of NiCo2O4 was unaffected by Ag addition. NiCo2O4 and Ag/NiCo2O4 composites containing different amounts of Ag were of a suitable size (~10 nm). The NiCo2O4 and Ag/NiCo2O4 composites showed potent activity against a range of disease-causing bacteria. Ag/NiCo2O4 composites with a low Ag content showed only weak antibacterial activity. These data highlight new strategies to overcome antibiotic resistance.