Tin Oxide-Silver Composite Nanomaterial Coating for UV Protection and Its Bactericidal Effect on Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Abstract

SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials of mass ratio 1:4, 2:3, 3:2 and 4:1 were fabricated and tested for toxicity to E. coli using the pour-plate technique. The said nanomaterials were mixed with laminating fluid and then coated on glass slides. The intensity of UVA transmitted through the coated glass slides was measured. Results revealed that the 1:4 ratios of SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials have the optimum toxicity to E. coli. Furthermore, the glass slides coated with SnO₂ nanomaterial showed the lowest intensity of transmitted UVA.

1. Introduction

Glass materials in windows tend to act as good media for the growth and multiplication of microorganisms. The chemical constituents that are absorbed and deposited on glass windows provide nutrition to microorganisms; and thereby promote their growth [1]. The growth of microorganisms on the glass materials causes innumerable problems such as stains [2] and unacceptable odor [3] which is detrimental to human health [4]. It is therefore important to develop glass or glass coating materials with antimicrobial properties to protect the health of the populace.

On the other hand, it is known that ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 280 to 320 nm, which is referred to as UVB, is harmful to the human skin. It causes sunburn, stains, or even skin cancer [5]. UVA, of wavelength range of 320–400 nm is harmful as well, causing skin aging and wrinkling (photoaging). It also causes photocarcinogenesis due to its ability to penetrate the dermal layers, unlike UVB which is absorbed by the epidermis [6]. The science and technology of protecting people against the harmful effects of UV radiation had received increasing interests most especially to countries with tropical climate wherein incidences of heat wave occurs [7]. Tinted glass windows are commonly used in buildings and vehicles to protect people from UV rays. However, the use of tints which are too dark is prohibited by law enforcement agencies since the use of such tints have been increasingly used in criminal activities [8,9,10,11]. It is therefore important to develop glass that is not tinted but is able to allow enough visible light to pass through. In this study, tin oxide-silver (SnO₂-Ag) composite nanomaterials were fabricated. Toxicity of the nanomaterials to E. coli bacteria was tested. The nanomaterials were mixed with laminating fluid. The mixtures were then coated on glass slides and allowed to dry. The ability of the coated glass slides to block UVA was monitored.

2. Experimental Section

2.1. Preparation of Nanoparticles

The raw materials used were Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA) Ag powder with 99.99% purity and <45 μm grain size and Merck SnO₂ powder of 99% purity with <5 μm grain size. The horizontal vapor phase crystal growth technique (HVPG) was used in the fabrication of SnO₂ nanomaterials, Ag nanomaterials, and SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials. In the said technique, 35 mg of SnO₂, Ag, and mixtures of SnO₂ with Ag powders at 1:4, 2:3, 3:2, and 4:1 mass ratio were placed into an ultrasonically clean closed-end quartz tubes with inner diameter of 8.5 mm, outer diameter of 11 mm, and length of 220 mm. The tube was evacuated using the Thermionics High Vacuum System with a vacuum pressure of 10⁻⁶ Torr which was sealed on the other end using by an Oxy-LPG gas mixture blow torch. The sealed quartz tubes were then placed in a Thermolyne horizontal tube furnace and were baked at a temperature of 800 °C with growth time of 6 h and ramp time of 80 min.

2.2. Characterization of Nanoparticles

The surface and elemental analysis of the SnO₂ nanomaterials, Ag nanomaterials, and SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials were carried out using JEOL SEM 5310 scanning electron microscope and Oxford EDX System, respectively. The pour-plate technique was then utilized to confirm the antimicrobial properties of the nanomaterials. In the said technique, E. coli bacterial solutions of 10⁻⁴ dilution factor were prepared through serial dilution from 0.5 Macfarland based standard solution. 2 mm of the said solutions were then poured into 6 opened quartz tubes. One quartz tube contained Ag nanomaterials, one quartz tube contained SnO₂ nanomaterials, while the other four tubes contained SnO₂-Ag nanomaterials of varying ratio of 1:4, 2:3, 3:2, and 4:1. Two additional quartz tubes were used, one containing Ag powder and another containing SnO₂ powder, in order to compare the effect on the bacterial activity of the bulk powders and nanomaterials. The quartz tubes containing the bacterial solutions were then shaken. One hundred microliters of the bacterial solution from each quartz tube was poured in separate sterile petri dishes. A 9 mL sterile and cold nutrient agar medium was then poured into each petri dish containing the bacterial solutions. The contents were thoroughly mixed and allowed to solidify. The dishes were then incubated at 35 °C for 24 h before comparing the colonies grown on each petri dish.

2.3. Characterization of Coatings

In performing the UVA test, 1 mg of Ag nanomaterials, SnO₂ nanomaterials, SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials, Ag powder, and SnO₂ powder were each mixed with 3mL of laminating fluid. Clean glass substrates were then coated with the nanomaterials-laminating fluid mixtures via the drip method. The UV optical properties of the coated glass slides were examined using the PASCO UVA light sensor in conjunction with an OMNI PAR 38 Flood 120 W lamp light source.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Surface Morphology and Elemental Composition of the Nanomaterials

Figure 1 shows the SEM images of (a) silver, (b) tin oxide, and (c,d) silver tin oxide nanomaterials grown at 800 °C with growth time of 6 h. The micrographs revealed the presence of nanoparticles, wires, and cotton-like structures grown in random directions.

Table 1 exhibits the atomic and elemental composition of the SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials at 1:4 ratio, 2:3 ratio, 3:2 ratio and 4:1 ratio. The resulting elemental and atomic composition confirmed the presence of Ag, Sn, and O in the composite nanomaterials.

Figure 1. SEM images of nanomaterials (a) silver; (b) tin oxide; and (c,d) silver tin oxide.

Figure 1. SEM images of nanomaterials (a) silver; (b) tin oxide; and (c,d) silver tin oxide.

Table 1. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis of SnO₂-Ag nanomaterials at 1:4 mixture, 2:3 mixture, 3:2 mixture, and 4:1 mixture.

Ratio	Element	Elem%	Atom%
1:4	O	24.75	69.70
	Ag	45.84	19.14
	Sn	29.71	11.16
	Total	100.00	100.00
2:3	O	34.00	78.94
	Ag	20.27	4.37
	Sn	45.73	16.69
	Total	100.00	100.00
3:2	O	36.30	84.75
	Ag	10.38	3.18
	Sn	53.32	12.06
	Total	100.00	100.00
4:1	O	20.83	66.02
	Ag	3.59	1.69
	Sn	75.58	32.29
	Total	100.00	100.00

Table 1. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis of SnO₂-Ag nanomaterials at 1:4 mixture, 2:3 mixture, 3:2 mixture, and 4:1 mixture.

Ratio	Element	Elem%	Atom%
1:4	O	24.75	69.70
	Ag	45.84	19.14
	Sn	29.71	11.16
	Total	100.00	100.00
2:3	O	34.00	78.94
	Ag	20.27	4.37
	Sn	45.73	16.69
	Total	100.00	100.00
3:2	O	36.30	84.75
	Ag	10.38	3.18
	Sn	53.32	12.06
	Total	100.00	100.00
4:1	O	20.83	66.02
	Ag	3.59	1.69
	Sn	75.58	32.29
	Total	100.00	100.00

3.2. Antimicrobial Activity

The two controls used in the study are shown in Figure 2a,b. Figure 2a shows an agar plate without any bacterial colony. Instead of adding bacterial solution to the sterile petri dish, only distilled water was poured into it. On the other hand, Figure 2b shows an agar plate with several bacterial colonies seen as tiny white spots.

It can be seen in Figure 3 that there are fewer CFUs on the agar plate with Ag nanomaterials compared to the agar plate with the bulk Ag powder. Likewise, there are fewer CFUs on the agar plate with the SnO₂ nanomaterials than on the agar plate with bulk SnO₂ powder. This is consistent with the finding of Espulgar and Santos [12] that the antimicrobial property of bulk material was not only carried over but was enhanced by its nanomaterial counterpart.

Figure 4 shows that there are fewer CFUs for the agar plate with the 1:4 ratio of SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials as compared to the 2:3, 3:2, and 4:1 ratio of SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials.

Figure 2. Agar plates used as control for comparison: (a) Agar plate without bacteria; (b) Agar plate with bacteria.

Figure 2. Agar plates used as control for comparison: (a) Agar plate without bacteria; (b) Agar plate with bacteria.

Figure 3. Comparison on colony forming units (CFU) between (a,c) powder and (b,d) nanomaterial on (a,b) Ag and (c,d) SnO₂.

Figure 3. Comparison on colony forming units (CFU) between (a,c) powder and (b,d) nanomaterial on (a,b) Ag and (c,d) SnO₂.

Figure 4. Agar plates containing mixtures of bacterial solution and nanomaterials of different ratio: (a) 1:4; (b) 2:3; (c) 3:2; (d) 4:1.

Figure 4. Agar plates containing mixtures of bacterial solution and nanomaterials of different ratio: (a) 1:4; (b) 2:3; (c) 3:2; (d) 4:1.

Table 2 summarizes the result of the antibacterial test where the number of CFU after 24 h of incubation was shown. It can be seen that Ag is more toxic to E. coli than SnO₂ and that the nanomaterials are more toxic than their bulk form. Also, it can be observed that as the percentage of Silver increases over tin oxide, the CFU number decreases. This is consistent with the observation that Ag is more toxic to E. coli than SnO₂. Moreover, results reveal that the 1:4 ratio of tin oxide and silver composite nanomaterials exhibits the greatest antimicrobial effect among the other ratios and material composition. Such a finding is consistent with previous reports [13,14] that the combination of Ag and a metal oxide may lead to an increase in bactericidal effect.

Table 2. Colony forming units (CFU) vs. material composition.

Material		CFU
Ag powder		59
Ag nanomaterial		18
SnO2 powder		500
SnO2 nanomaterial		35
SnO2-Ag composite	1:4 ratio	9
	2:3 ratio	19
	3:2 ratio	20
	4:1 ratio	31
E. Coli		149

Table 2. Colony forming units (CFU) vs. material composition.

Material		CFU
Ag powder		59
Ag nanomaterial		18
SnO2 powder		500
SnO2 nanomaterial		35
SnO2-Ag composite	1:4 ratio	9
	2:3 ratio	19
	3:2 ratio	20
	4:1 ratio	31
E. Coli		149

The mechanisms of the bactericidal effect of silver and silver nanoparticles (NPs) were discussed in different studies according to literature [15]. A study proposed that silver NPs can be attached to the surface of the cell membrane disturbing the permeability and respiration functions of the cell [4]. Smaller silver NPs having large surface area that are available for interaction would be more bactericidal than the larger silver NPs [16]. Moreover, it is possible that silver NPs will not only interact with the surface of membrane but can also penetrate inside the bacteria [17].

3.3. UVA Analysis of the Samples

Before the UVA transmission measurement was obtained, samples were first prepared by mixing 1 mg of Ag nanomaterials, SnO₂ nanomaterials, SnO₂-Ag composite nanomaterials, Ag powder, and SnO₂ powder with 3 mL of laminating fluid. Clean glass substrates were then coated with the nanomaterials-laminating fluid mixtures via the drip method. The coated glass slides were air dried and were later exposed to an OMNI PAR 38 Flood 120 W lamp light source. The relative intensity vs. time graph was obtained using a PASCO UVA light Sensor and was plotted using PASCO’s Data Studio real time graph software. The graphs obtained are shown in Figure 5. As can be seen in the figure, the relative intensity was reduced when the glass slide was coated with the laminating fluid mixed with silver and tin oxide bulk powder. The basis for the decrease in intensity is that the material’s surface was opaque and blocks UV light. On the other hand, the glass slide coated with the laminating fluid mixed with 4:1 ratio of tin oxide and silver nanomaterials had the least transmission for UVA and was transparent to visible light.

Figure 5. Graph of relative intensity of UVA vs. time graph of tin-oxide, silver, mass ratio of tin oxide silver nanocomposite material, glass slide, and without glass slide.

Figure 5. Graph of relative intensity of UVA vs. time graph of tin-oxide, silver, mass ratio of tin oxide silver nanocomposite material, glass slide, and without glass slide.

4. Conclusions

The HVPG technique was found to be effective in fabricating tin oxide and silver nanomaterials. The antimicrobial test shows that reducing the size of the sample to its nano form increases its toxicity to E. coli bacteria. Moreover, the glass slides coated with the laminating fluid mixed with tin oxide nanomaterial exhibits excellent UV blocking properties.