Preparation of green Ag@SiO2 microcapsule with long-acting antibacterial activity and tumor cell-targeting potential using carboxymethyl chitosan, halide ion, and sunlight

Abstract

In this study, the photolysis of AgCl and mesoporous silica microspheres was used to prepare small green Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Ag@SiO2 microcapsules. Transmission electron microscopy images of the Ag@SiO2 microcapsules indicated that the particle sizes of most of the AgNPs were 5–50 nm. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry results indicated that the Ag dissolution amount of the Ag@SiO2 microcapsules was significantly larger than that of commercial AgNPs, and the Ag dissolution amount of the Ag@SiO2 microcapsules decreased more slowly after multiple soaking cycles. In a bactericidal test, most of the soaking solutions of the Ag@SiO2 microcapsules exhibited an obvious bacteriostatic circle for gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The cytotoxicity of the Ag@SiO2 microcapsules was more pronounced in tumor cells. Thus, these microcapsules can target tumor cells.