Silver is considered as antibacterial agent with well-known mode of action and bacterial resistance against it is well described. The development of nanotechnology provided different methods for the modification of the chemical and physical structure of silver, which may increase its antibacterial potential. The physico-chemical properties of silver nanoparticles and their interaction with living cells differs substantially from those of silver ions. Moreover, the variety of the forms and characteristics of various silver nanoparticles are also responsible for differences in their antibacterial mode of action and probably bacterial mechanism of resistance. The paper discusses in details the aforementioned aspects of silver activity.

The aim of this study was to compare the antibacterial mode of action of silver ions (Ag⁺) and selected silver nanoformulations againstE. colistrains (E. coliJ53,Escherichia coliBW25113 and its derivatives: ΔompA, ΔompC, ΔompF, ΔompR, ompRG596AcusSG1130A, cusSG1130A). In this research we used various experimental methods and techniques such as determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration, flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy, circular dichroism as well as computational methods of theoretical chemistry. Thanks to the processing of bacteria and silver samples (ions and nanoformulations), we were able to determine the bacterial sensitivity to silver samples, detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the bacterial cells, visualize the interaction of silver samples with the bacterial cells, and identify their interactions with proteins. Differences between the mode of action of silver ions and nanoformulations and the action of nanoformulations themselves were revealed. Based on the results of computational methods, we proposed an explanation of the differences in silver-outer protein interaction between silver ions and metallic silver; in general, the Ag⁰complexes exhibit weaker interaction than Ag⁺ones. Moreover, we identified two gutter-like areas of the inner layer of the ion channel: one more effective, with oxygen-rich side chains; and another one less effective, with nitrogen-rich side chains.

Pure and silver doped nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was prepared using novel, modified sol–gel method. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption measurement, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis). The antibacterial activity of the prepared samples was indicated by minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) values according to the reference methods of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute for the determination of MIC of aerobic bacteria by broth microdilution. The results showed very good antibacterial activity of silver nanoforms to bacteria strains: Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The sensitivity of the tested bacteria to silver nanoforms depends on the crystalline form of the carrier—TiO₂, its surface area, porosity, the content of silver, its particle size and oxidation state. The originality of this work is the synthesis of novel type of nanocomposites TiO₂ doped with silver and determination its excellent antibacterial activity.

In this study, microbial diversity of the root canal microbiota related to different endodontic infections was investigated. In total, 45 patients with endo–perio lesions (8 patients), chronic periapical periodontitis (29 patients) and pulp necrosis (8 patients) were recruited. In 19 (42.2%) patients there was secondary infection of root canals. Microbial specimens were collected from root canals of non-vital teeth with or without changes in periapical area visible in X-ray. Then, oral microbiota were detected and identified using the culture method and real-time PCR amplification primers and hydrolysis-probe detection with the 16S rRNA gene as the target. Overall, 1434 species/genes from 41 different genera of 90 various microbial species were retrieved. Of the major reported phyla, Firmicutes (62.9%), Actinobacteria (14.0%), Bacteroidetes (12.1%), Proteobacteria (9.1%) and Fusobacteria (4.2%) were detected. Of the bacterial species, 54.6% were strict anaerobes. Corynebacterium matruchotii (p = 0.039) was present significantly more frequently in chronic periapical periodontitis. Moreover, the higher values of Decayed, Missing and Filled Permanent Teeth index were positively correlated with relative abundance of Actinomyces spp. (p = 0.042), Lactobacillus spp. (p = 0.006), Propionibacterium spp. (p = 0.024) and Rothia spp. (p = 0.002). The multivariate analyses revealed differences in total root canal samples, where components that affected grouping of root samples into four main categories were identified. Anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria predominated in root canals of teeth with pulp necrosis and periapical lesions. Facultative anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria predominated in canals with secondary infections. All detected members of mixed population groups that might serve as keystone species contributed to the entire community in its clinical relevance.

Hydroxyapatites (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ and Eu³⁺:Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) were synthesized by aqueous synthesis route. Hydroxyapatites were impregnated with silver ions that were subsequently reduced. XRD, TEM, and SAED measurements were used in order to determine the crystal structure and morphology of the final products. The results showed the well crystallized hydroxyapatite grains with diameter of about 35 nm and with silver nanoparticles on their surface. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles against: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 as model of the Gram-positive bacteria, Escherichia coli ATCC 11229, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352 as model of Gram-negative bacteria, were shown with the best activity against K. pneumoniae. These nanocomposite powders can be a promising antimicrobial agent and a fluorescent material for biodetection due to their optical and bioactive properties.