Imidazole-Functionalized Ag/MOFs as Promising Scaffolds for Proper Antibacterial Activity and Toxicity Reduction of Ag Nanoparticles

Microbial contamination control is one of the most important demands in most industries and hospitals. Among vast antimicrobial groups, silver nanoparticles are desirable due to their great antibacterial properties, whereas the toxic effect of silver on animal and human cells cannot be neglected. In this study, the cytotoxicity of the new silver/imidazole was investigated in a metal framework (MOF) composition. Lung epithelial cells (A549) were cultured at 37 oC in 5% CO2. The cytotoxicity of six types of particles/material (i.e., AgNO3, MIL-101(Cr)/IMI, Imidazole, Ag/MIL-101(Cr), Ag/MIL-101(Cr)/IMI, and MIL-101(Cr)) was examined by MTT assay. Also, the dose-response curves were plotted using Graphpad Prism. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined forE. coliandS. aureus. Based on the dose-response curves, AgNO3(IC50 = 17.39 mu g/mL) and MIL-101(Cr) (IC50 = 158.2 mu g/mL) were the most and less toxic substances, respectively. However, the antibacterial property of Ag/MIL-101(Cr)/IMI was desired with less cell toxicity (IC50 = 140.4 mu g/mL) in comparison with AgNO3. Although the new metal framework of Ag/imidazole allowed the composition particles to act as a great antibacterial, it reduced the metal leaching from the composition. Accordingly, less Ag leaching would lead to lower human cell toxicity. On the other hand, this framework would increase its disinfection efficiency in comparison with other substances.