Direct observation of bacterial deposition on and detachment from nanocomposite membranes embedded with silver nanoparticles

A microscope-equipped online monitoring system was used to investigate the bacterial deposition and detachment kinetics of a nanocomposite membrane that was synthesized by embedding silver nanoparticles in a polysulfone membrane. A pure polysulfone membrane was used as a control in the experiments. The deposition experiments with live bacteria showed that the bacterial deposition rates were the same for the nanocomposite and control polysulfone membranes. After the rinsing experiments, however, on average a high bacterial detachment ratio of 75% was observed for the nanocomposite membrane, compared with 18% for the control polysulfone membrane. These results indicate that the presence of silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial agent enhances the antiadhesive property of the nanocomposite membrane by decreasing the capability of bacteria in permanently attaching to the membrane surface. A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation was used to study silver leaching. It was found that silver leaching significantly decreased within the first few hours. Deposition and rinsing experiments with dead bacterial cells revealed that the dead cell deposition rates were similar for both membranes, and so were the detachment ratios. Since the nanocomposite membrane did not show any antiadhesive action against dead cells, its antiadhesive property was most likely attributed to its ability to inhibit biological activities. Results of the antibacterial experiments confirmed that the nanocomposite membrane was highly effective in inhibiting bacterial growth with an antibacterial efficiency of over 98%, which did not decrease even after the membrane was soaked in DI water for seven days.

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► An online monitoring system was used to study the bacterial deposition and detachment kinetics.
► Silver nanoparticles did not affect bacterial deposition onto the membrane.
► Silver nanoparticles inhibited the attachment of bacteria onto the membrane.
►  The nanocomposite membrane did not exhibit any antiadhesive action against dead cells.
►  Silver leaching from the nanocomposite membrane quickly slowed down within hours.