Single Step Sol-Gel Made Silver Chloride on Titania Xerogels To Inhibit E. Coli Bacteria Growth: Effect of Preparation and Chloride Ion on Bactericidal Activity

Abstract

We report the antibacterial efficacies of silver and/or silver chloride containing titania xerogels synthesized with modified single step sol-gel methods against Escherichia coli bacteria. As the silver loading in TiO 2 increases, the amount of the xerogel required to inhibit the growth of the bacteria decreases and also we found that pure TiO2 was not bactericidal. Among modified single step sol-gel methods used in this study, the additional HCl treatment sol-gel route III was very effective to obtain only AgCl crystallites in TiO2. Based on viable cell count method, 0.125 g/L of 29%Ag/TiO2 (made with HNO3 sol-gel route I) was enough to inhibit the growth of E. coli whereas 0.6 g/L of 29%Ag/TiO2 (made with the additional HCl treatment sol-gel route III) was required. However, antibacterial activity of 29%Ag/TiO2 (made with HNO 3 sol-gel route I) after 6 usages was the same as 29%Ag/TiO 2 (made with the additional HCl treatment sol-gel route III).