Lysozyme Catalyzes the Formation of Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles
Abstract
Hen egg white lysozyme acted as the sole reducing agent and catalyzed the formation of silver nanoparticles in the presence of light. Stable silver colloids formed afer mixing lysozyme and silver acetate in methanol and resulting nanoparticles were concentrated and transferred to aqueous solution without any significant changes in physical or chemical properties. Activity and antimicrobial assays demonstrated lysozyme-silver nanoparticles retained the hydrolase function of the enzyme and were effective in inhibiting growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus antracis, and Candida albicans. Remarkably, lysozyme-silver nanoparticles also demonstrated a significantly lower minimum inhibitory concentration over silver acetate against silver-resistant strains of Proteus mirabilis and a recombinant E. coli strain containing the multiple antibiotic- and silver-resistant plasmid, pMG101. Toxicological studies using human epidermal keratinocytes concluded that lysozyme-silver nanoparticles are non-toxic at concentrations sufficient to inhibit microbial growth. Overall, the ability of lysozyme to assemble silver nanoparticles in a one-step reaction offers a simple and environmentally-friendly approach to form stable colloids of non-toxic silver nanoparticles that merges the antimicrobial properties of lysozyme and colloidal silver to generate a potent antibiotic.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 03, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA633140
Entities
People
- D. M. Eby
- Glenn R. Johnson
- Karen E. Farrington
- Nicole M. Schaeublin
- Saber M. Hussain
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory