Toxicity Mechanisms in Escherichia coli Vary for Silver Nanoparticles and Differ from Ionic Silver

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are commonly added to various consumer products and materials to impair bacterial growth. Recent studies suggested that the primary mechanism of antibacterial action of silver nanoparticles is release of silver ion (Ag(+)) and that particle-specific activity of silver nanoparticles is negligible. Here, we used a genome-wide library of Escherichia coli consisting of ∼4000 single gene deletion mutants to elucidate which physiological pathways are involved in how E. coli responds to different Ag NPs. The nanoparticles studied herein varied in both size and surface charge. AgNO3 was used as a control for soluble silver ions. Within a series of differently sized citrate-coated Ag NPs,…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: DBI-0830117
• EP
  Environmental Protection Agency

  Award: DBI-0830117
• ET
  Eesti Teadusfondi