Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity. These beneficial properties are blurred by their toxicity to mammalian cells and the environmental threaten that they represent, thus limiting their use. Herein, the use of the biocompatible biopolymer lignin as both reducing and capping agent in the production of AgNPs is presented as an alternative to reduce the presence of silver while maintaining a high antimicrobial effect. The resulting NPs contain silver and lignin (AgLNPs) that confer a dual bactericidal mechanism, which effect on mammalian membranes has not yet been elucidated. The current work studies the <i>in vitro </i>interaction of AgLNPs with model mammalian membranes using two model structures: Langmuir films and supported planar lipid bilayers. The results show the interactions aroused between AgLNPs with the model membranes being lignin the key element for the binding of AgLNPs to the mammalian membranes without penetrating through them, which explains the low toxicity of such NPs to mammalian cells.

Silver-lignin nanoparticles effect on mammalian model membranes

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.