Characterization of chemical reactions of silver diammine fluoride and hydroxyapatite under remineralization conditions

Introduction

Silver Diammine Fluoride (SDF) is a clinically used topical agent to arrest dental caries. However, the kinetics of its chemical interactions with hydroxyapatite (HA), the principal inorganic component of dental enamel, are not known. The aim was to characterize the step-wise chemical interactions between SDF and HA powder during the clinically important process of remineralization.

Methods

Two grams of HA powder were immersed in 10 ml acetic acid pH = 4.0 for 2 h to mimic carious demineralization. The powder was then washed and dried for 24 h and mixed with 1.5 ml SDF (Riva Star) for 1 min. The treated powder was then air-dried for 3 min, and 0.2 g was removed and stored in individual tubes each containing 10 ml remineralizing solution. Powder was taken from each tube at various times of exposure to remineralization solution (0 min, 10 min, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 10 days), and characterized using Magic Angle Spinning-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy.

Results and discussion

19F MAS-NMR spectra showed that calcium fluoride (CaF2) started to form almost immediately after HA was in contact with SDF. After 24 h, the peak shifted to -104.5 ppm suggesting that fluoride substituted hydroxyapatite (FSHA) was formed with time at the expense of CaF2. The 31P MAS-NMR spectra showed a single peak at 2.7 ppm at all time points showing that the only phosphate species present was crystalline apatite. The 35Cl MAS-NMR spectra showed formation of silver chloride (AgCl) at 24 h. It was observed that after the scan, the whitish HA powder changed to black color. In conclusion, this time sequence study showed that under remineralization conditions, SDF initially reacted with HA to form CaF2 which is then transformed to FSHA over time. In the presence of chloride, AgCl is formed which is subsequently photo-reduced to black metallic silver.

Antibacterial Properties of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Modified with Fluoroquinolones and Copper or Silver Species

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem and bacterial biofilms contribute to its development. In this context, this study aimed to perform the synthesis and characterization of seven materials based on silica mesoporous nanoparticles functionalized with three types of fluoroquinolones, along with Cu2+ or Ag+ species to evaluate the antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including clinical and multi-drug-resistant strains of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In addition, in order to obtain an effective material to promote wound healing, a well-known proliferative agent, phenytoin sodium, was adsorbed onto one of the silver-functionalized materials. Furthermore, biofilm studies and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also carried out to determine the antibacterial potential of the synthesized materials. In this sense, the Cu2+ materials showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, potentially due to increased ROS generation (up to 3 times), whereas the Ag+ materials exhibited a broader spectrum of activity, even inhibiting clinical strains of MRSA and P. aeruginosa. In particular, the Ag+ material with phenytoin sodium showed the ability to reduce biofilm development by up to 55% and inhibit bacterial growth in a "wound-like medium" by up to 89.33%.

Sunlight-Driven Generation of Hypochlorous Acid on Plasmonic Au/AgCl Catalysts in Aerated Chloride Solution

HClO is typically manufactured from Cl₂ gas generated by the electrochemical oxidation of Cl^- using considerable electrical energy with a large concomitant emission of CO₂. Therefore, renewable energy-driven HClO generation is desirable. In this study, we developed a strategy for stable HClO generation by sunlight irradiation of a plasmonic Au/AgCl photocatalyst in an aerated Cl^- solution at ambient temperature. Plasmon-activated Au particles by visible light generate hot electrons, which are consumed by O₂ reduction, and hot holes, which oxidize the lattice Cl^- of AgCl adjacent to the Au particles. The formed Cl₂ is disproportionated to afford HClO, and the removed lattice Cl^- are compensated by the Cl^- in the solution, thus promoting a catalytic HClO generation cycle. A solar-to-HClO conversion efficiency of ∼0.03% was achieved by simulated sunlight irradiation, where the resultant solution contained >38 ppm (>0.73 mM) of HClO and exhibited bactericidal and bleaching activities. The strategy based on the Cl^- oxidation/compensation cycles will pave the way for sunlight-driven clean, sustainable HClO generation.

Visible-Light Active Flexible and Durable Photocatalytic Antibacterial Ethylene-co-vinyl Acetate-Ag/AgCl/α-Fe2O3 Composite Coating

When particles are mixed in polymer, particle surfaces become passivated by polymer matrix, leading to significantly reduced photocatalytic and, thus, also reduced antibacterial activity, as the catalytic particles become isolated from the outer environment and microorganisms reaching the surface. Herein, we demonstrate a facile and rapid approach for coating preparation at room temperature, yielding good adhesion of particles in combination with the particles’ interface location. Flexible ethylene-co-vinyl acetate Ag/AgCl/α-Fe₂O₃ composite coatings were prepared by the spin-coating method. The synthesized photocatalytically active coating surface exhibited a distinct and rapid inhibition of bacterial growth, with at least a 7-log reduction of gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus viability after 30 min of visible-light illumination. We also analyzed the shedding of the Ag-ions and reactive oxygen species production from the composite coating and showed that reactive oxygen species played the main role in the photocatalytic bacterial inactivation, destroying the bacteria cell as proven by the Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy.

Valorizing the Unexplored Filtration Waste of Brewing Industry for Green Silver Nanocomposite Synthesis

The brewing industry generates a substantial amount of by-products rich in polyphenols, carbohydrates, sugars, sulfates, nitrogen compounds, organic carbon, and several elements, including chlorine, magnesium, and phosphorus. Although limited quantities of these by-products are used in fertilizers and composts, a large amount is discarded as waste. Therefore, it is crucial to identify different ways of valorizing the by-products. Research regarding the valorization of the brewery by-products is still in its nascent stage; therefore, it still has high potential. Herein, we report the valorization of the brewery by-product from the filtration stage of the brewing process (BW9) to synthesize silver nanocomposites as this waste has remained largely unexplored. The BW9 nanocomposites have been compared to those obtained from the brewery product B. The chemical composition analysis of BW9 and B revealed several organic moieties capable of reducing metal salts and capping the formed nanoparticles. Therefore, the brewery waste from stage 9 was valorized as a precursor and added to silver-based precursor at various temperatures (25, 50, and 80 °C) and for various time periods (10, 30, and 120 min) to synthesize silver nanocomposites. The nanocomposites obtained using BW9 were compared to those obtained using the main product of the brewing industry, beer (B). Synthesized nanocomposites composed of AgCl as a major phase and silver metal (Ag_met) was incorporated in minor quantities. In addition, Ag₃PO₄ was also found in B nanocomposites in minor quantities (up to 34 wt.%). The surface morphology depicted globular nanoparticles with layered structures. Small ball-like aggregates on the layer representative of Ag₃PO₄ were observed in B nanocomposites. The surface of nanocomposites was capped with organic content and functional groups present in the brewery products. The nanocomposites demonstrated high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), with BW9 nanocomposites exhibiting a higher activity than B nanocomposites.

Template-Free Electrochemical Formation of Silicon Nanotubes from Silica

Silicon, with its elaborate microstructure, plays important roles in energy materials. In operando engineering of microstructure during extraction is an ideal protocol to develop advanced Si-based materials. A template-free electrochemical preparation of silicon nanotubes (Si-NT) is herein achieved by co-electrolysis of SiO2 and AgCl in molten NaCl-CaCl2 at 850 °C. The in situ electrodeposited Ag facilitates the generation of a liquid Ag-Si intermediate, triggering a liquid-solid mechanism to direct the growth of Si-NT. An automatic separation of Ag from Si then occurs in the following cooling process, resulting in Ag deposits on the Ni current collector and recycling of Ag. Such a facile and smart preparation of Si-NT from affordable silica guarantees an enhanced current efficiency of 74%, a decreased energy consumption of 12.1 kW h kgSi -1, and enhanced lithium-storage capability of the electrolytic Si-NT. An in situ coating of Ag over the Si-NT can also be fulfilled by simply introducing soluble AgCl in the melts. The present study provides a template-free preparation and an in situ surface modification of Si-NT.

Uniform Ag Nanocubes Prepared by AgCl Particle-Mediated Heterogeneous Nucleation and Disassembly and Their Mechanism Study by DFT Calculation

Uniform Ag nanocubes are reproducibly synthesized by a AgCl particle-mediated heterogeneous nucleation and disassembly process in polyol chemistry. By introducing N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in a conventional polyol method with HCl etchant, Ag nanocrystals (NCs) begin to be nucleated on the surface of AgCl-precipitated particles due to the promoted reduction reaction by DMF. The nucleated Ag NCs on the AgCl particles are grown to Ag nanocubes in shape by consuming Ag sources from the AgCl mother particles. Eventually the grown Ag nanocubes are disassembled from the mother AgCl particles because the AgCl particles are fully digested by the growing Ag nanocubes. Density functional theory calculation confirms that the Ag atoms can be favorably deposited on the (100) facet of AgCl particles and the Ag nuclei on the AgCl particles tend to reveal (100) facet.

Study of corrosion in archaeological gilded irons by Raman imaging and a coupled scanning electron microscope-Raman system

In this work, analytical and chemical imaging tools have been applied to the study of a gilded spur found in the medieval necropolis of Erenozar (Bizkaia, Spain). As a first step, a lot of portable equipment has been used to study the object in a non-invasive way. The hand-held energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence equipment allowed us to characterize the artefact as a rare example of an iron matrix item decorated by means of a fire gilding technique. On the other hand, the use of a portable Raman system helped us to detect the main degradation compounds affecting the spur. Afterwards, further information was acquired in the laboratory by analysing detached fragments. The molecular images obtained using confocal Raman microscopy permitted us to characterize the stratigraphic succession of iron corrosions. Furthermore, the combined use of this technique with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was achieved owing to the use of a structural and chemical analyser interface. In this way, the molecular characterization, enhanced by the magnification feature of the SEM, allowed us to identify several micrometric degradation compounds. Finally, the effectiveness of one of the most used desalination baths (NaOH) was evaluated by comparing its effects with those provided by a reference bath (MilliQ). The comparison proved that basic treatment avoided any side effects on the spur decorated by fire gilding, compensating for the lack of bibliographic documentation in this field.This article is part of the themed issue 'Raman spectroscopy in art and archaeology'.

Facile Synthesis of Silver Nanocubes with Sharp Corners and Edges in an Aqueous Solution

It remains a challenge to synthesize Ag nanocubes in an aqueous system, although the polyol process was successfully adopted more than one decade ago. Here, we report an aqueous method for the synthesis of Ag nanocubes with an average edge length of 35-95 nm. It involves the formation of AgCl octahedra by mixing CF₃COOAg with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, followed by the nucleation and growth of Ag nanocrystals in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and FeCl₃. The Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ redox pair is responsible for the removal of multiply twinned seeds through oxidative etching. The Cl^- ions play two critical roles in the nucleation and growth of Ag nanocubes with a single-crystal structure. First, the Cl^- ions react with Ag⁺ ions to generate nanometer-sized AgCl octahedra in the initial stage of a synthesis. In the presence of room light and a proper reducing agent such as AA, the AgCl can be reduced to generate Ag_n nuclei followed by their evolution into single-crystal seeds and then Ag nanocrystals. Second, the Cl^- ions can act as a specific capping agent toward the Ag(100) surface, enabling the formation of Ag nanocubes with sharp corners and edges. Based on the results from a set of time-lapse studies and control experiments, we formulate a plausible mechanism to account for the formation of Ag nanocubes that resembles the formation and development of latent image centers in silver halide grains in the photographic process.

Electrochemical Nanoparticle Sizing Via Nano-Impacts: How Large a Nanoparticle Can be Measured?

The field of nanoparticle (NP) sizing encompasses a wide array of techniques, with electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) having become the established methods for NP quantification; however, these techniques are not always applicable. A new and rapidly developing method that addresses the limitations of these techniques is the electrochemical detection of NPs in solution. The 'nano-impacts' technique is an excellent and qualitative in situ method for nanoparticle characterization. Two complementary studies on silver and silver bromide nanoparticles (NPs) were used to assess the large radius limit of the nano-impact method for NP sizing. Noting that by definition a NP cannot be larger than 100 nm in diameter, we have shown that the method quantitatively sizes at the largest limit, the lower limit having been previously reported as ∼6 nm.1.

Plasmonic Ag@AgCl nanotubes fabricated from copper nanowires as high-performance visible light photocatalyst

In this paper, plasmonic photocatalyst Ag@AgCl nanotubes were prepared by a cost-efficient and template-based method and their photocatalytic properties were studied. In the synthesis, copper nanowires were first synthesized and Ag nanotubes were then obtained through the galvanic reaction between copper and Ag ions. The formation of Ag@AgCl nanotubes was finally achieved by in situ oxidation reaction upon the addition of FeCl3. The crystal structure of the product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The morphology and composition of the composite were studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. All the structure characterizations showed that the tubulate product was produced by the synthetic processes. By using the obtained product as photocatalyst, the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) was investigated under visible light. The experimental results showed that the as-prepared Ag@AgCl nanotubes exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance and high stability. Under visible light irradiation, more than 92.58% of the MO dye has been decomposed in 10 min on the product with a 1:1 ratio of Fe/Ag. On the basis of the proposed mechanism, the improved photocatalytic activities of the Ag@AgCl hybrids can be ascribed to the enhanced surface area for dye molecule adsorption, enhanced visible light absorbance, and the efficient charge separation of the hybrid nanostructures.