Effects of size on silver nanoparticle stability and inhibition of Vibro parahaemolyticus bacterial cell growth in high chloride media

The stability of silver nanoparticles at average sizes of 10 nm, 30 nm, and 50 nm with polyvinylpyrrolidone stabiliser was evaluated in a medium with high chloride ion concentration. The antibacterial activity of these silver nanoparticles against marine cholera Vibrio parahaemolyticus was studied and compared with ionic Ag+ and a bactericidal agent, Benzalkonium chloride. The results show that the smaller the silver nanoparticles, the higher the stability, and the higher the antibacterial ability, which is closer to the antibacterial ability of the ionic Ag+. These results show the outstanding bactericidal activity of small silver nanoparticles and the potential application of these tiny particles in inhibiting pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture.