Abstract
Over the past two decades, Ag and Zn nanoparticles have been integrated into various consumer products as a biocide. While some nano-enabled consumer products have been shown to have antibacterial properties, their antibacterial efficacy as well as the human and environmental health outcomes are not fully known. In this study, we examine a nanoparticle-enabled product that also serves as a conduit for human exposure to bacteria: toothbrushes. We utilize a combination of chemical analyses, laboratory experiments, and microscopy to characterize the nano-enabled toothbrush bristles. Our analysis showed the majority of measured Ag and Zn particles ranged from approximately 50 to 100 nm in size and were located on the surface and within bristles. During simulated brushing, antimicrobial bristles released both Ag and Zn, the majority of which was released in particulate form. While our results demonstrate that antimicrobial bristles have enhanced bactericidal properties compared to control samples, we also show that the surface topography influences nanoparticle retention, microbial adhesion, and bactericidal activity. We thus conclude that Ag or Zn content alone is insufficient to predict antimicrobial properties, which are further governed by the bioavailability of Ag or Zn at the bristle surface.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 122445 |
| Journal | Journal of Hazardous Materials |
| Volume | 396 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 5 2020 |
Funding
Funding for this project was provided by the Searle Leadership Fund , the McCormick Summer Research Award , and the Austrian Marshall Plan Scholarship Foundation . Metal analysis was performed at the Northwestern University Quantitative Bio-element Imaging Center generously supported by NASA Ames Research Center NNA06CB93G . Fluorescence microscopy was performed at the Biological Imaging Facility at Northwestern University, graciously supported by the Chemistry for Life Processes Institute , the NU Office for Research and the Rice Foundation . This work made use of the EPIC facility of Northwestern University’s NUANCE Center, which has received support from the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205 ); the MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139 ) at the Materials Research Center ; the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN); the Keck Foundation ; and the State of Illinois , through the IIN. Funding for this project was provided by the Searle Leadership Fund, the McCormick Summer Research Award, and the Austrian Marshall Plan Scholarship Foundation. Metal analysis was performed at the Northwestern University Quantitative Bio-element Imaging Center generously supported by NASA Ames Research CenterNNA06CB93G. Fluorescence microscopy was performed at the Biological Imaging Facility at Northwestern University, graciously supported by the Chemistry for Life Processes Institute, the NU Office for Research and the Rice Foundation. This work made use of the EPIC facility of Northwestern University's NUANCE Center, which has received support from the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205); the MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139) at the Materials Research Center; the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN); the Keck Foundation; and the State of Illinois, through the IIN.
Keywords
- Antimicrobial
- Consumer products
- Nanoparticles
- Release
- Toothbrush
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
