Synthesis and Association of Ag(0) Nanoparticles in Aqueous Nonionic Surfactant Triton X-100 Solution: A Facile Approach for Antibacterial Application

In this report, we have described the synthesis, characterization and application to antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) capped by nonionic surfactant, poly(ethylene glycol) t-octylphenyl ether, TX-100. The morphology and kinetics of the AgNPs were studied by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV-V is absorption spectroscopic techniques. Interestingly, the formation of spherical particles was found. Apart from the stabilizing role, the nonionic surfactant has promoted the agglomeration of individual AgNPs in small assemblies whose plasmon band features differed from those of the individual nanoparticles. The formation of AgNPs-TX-100 complex took place and was controlled by the TX-100 concentrations. Free TX-100 micelles encountered above critical micellar concentration (CMC) promoted the partial desorption of the adsorbed AgNPs and subsequently weakened the stability of the individual nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized AgNPs on Gram-negative bacteria viz., E. coli was carried out by plate count and growth kinetics methods.