Toward revealing the controversy of bacterial biosynthesis versus bactericidal properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs): bacteria and other microorganisms do not per se viably synthesize AgNPs.

Abstract

In the last two decades, a large number of literature had focused on the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from silver ions by bacteria and other microorganisms. This study infers that bacteria and other microorganisms do not per se synthesize AgNPs. All tested auto- and heterotrophic microorganisms in this study were killed by silver ions and could not as viable cells produce AgNPs. Microbial cell viability represented in colony-forming units and metabolic viability represented in aerobic respiration in all investigated microorganisms as well as photosynthesis in photoautotrophic microorganisms ceased by silver ions too early before AgNPs formation. The time required for AgNPs synthesis inversely related to the incubation temperature of the investigated microorganisms with silver ions where it requires only few minutes for nanoparticles formation at high temperature or autoclaving. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations of silver ions were significantly lower than AgNPs, indicating that silver ions are more efficient antimicrobial. The results presented in this study indicate that formation of AgNPs by eubacteria, cyanobacteria and fungi is not a vitally regulated cellular metabolic process and the mechanism occurs via bioreduction of silver ions to nanoparticles by organics released from the dead cells.