Silver nanoparticles and silver ions stabilized in NaCl nanocrystals

• Ag nanoparticles stabilized in NaCl nanocrystals matrix.
• Comparative antibacterial activity Ag nanoparticles vs Ag+.
• Antibacterial activity of Ag+ ions stabilized in NaCl nanocrystals.
• Surface Plasmon Resonance in Ag nanoparticles.

This study presents a two-step synthesis of nanoparticles and the stabilization process of Ag ions in the matrix of NaCl nanocrystals. Ag+ ions are incorporated to NaCl with a new and attractive method that can be easily used for the different types of alkaline halides. The nanoparticles with predominant size found between 10 and 15 nm were stabilized on the surface and/or interior of NaCl nanocrystals using, in the first stages, the ionic-exchange property of zeolite A4. The optical properties of the materials were characterized through optical absorption, leading to well defined absorption bands located in the wave length values between 217–275 nm and 350–770 nm approximately, for Ag+ and AgNp, respectively. The antibacterial property of Ag ions and nanoparticles stabilized in NaCl was analyzed against gram-negative Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella bacteria. In order to quantify the antibacterial effect of Ag ions and nanoparticles the inhibition ratio was used as a parameter on the bacteria colonies grown in culture medium by conventional methods. Ag+ ions that were stabilized in NaCl nanocrystals show a mayor inhibition ratio in contact with Klebsiella bacteria, conversely Ag nanoparticles showed better results in contact with E. coli.