Fabrication of silver nanoparticles loaded flowerlike CeF3 architectures and their antibacterial activity

Cerium fluoride (CeF3) architectures with size of 200-300 nm were prepared by hydrothermal method. Their morphology and property were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), zeta potentials and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. The prepared CeF3 architectures present flower-like shape and consist of nanosheets. Their dispersion stability was improved by modification with chitosan/carboxymethyl chitosan (CTS/CMCTS). After modification, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were successfully loaded on the surface of CeF3 architectures via in situ growth. As novel antibacterial materials, both CeF3/CTS/Ag and CeF3/CMCTS/Ag exhibit good antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) due to the synergistic effect of CeF3 and silver nanoparticles.