Antimicrobial characteristics of silver aerosol nanoparticles against Bacillus subtilis bioaerosols

Abstract

Silver aerosol nanoparticles generated by an atomizer were investigated as an antimicrobial agent against B. subtilis bioaerosols, a model for Gram-positive bacteria. The bioaerosols and silver aerosol nanoparticles were mixed in a test duct for 15 s and sampled on nutrient agar plates by an impactor. Peak concentrations of the silver aerosol nanoparticles at the mobility diameter of 80 nm were controlled from 1.5 x 10(5) to 1.0 x 10(6) particles/cm(3), depending on the concentration of silver hydrosol nanoparticles. The maximal antimicrobial efficiency of silver aerosol nanoparticles was 76% under selected experimental conditions.