Overcoming Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Using Novel Laser Ablated Au@Ag@Au Double Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Abstract

A pulsed laser was used to make the Au@Ag@Au core-double shell nanoparticles in a DMF solution. The samples were characterized and inspected to confirm the structure investigated by XRD tests, and the average crystallite size was 51.988, 51.222, and 47.482 nm at laser energy 300, 500, and 700 mJ, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to confirm the nanostructure of the particles. The particles were found to have a spherical form, with mean diameters of 15 nm, 9.5 nm, and 7.5 nm at laser energy of 300, 500, and 700 mJ, respectively. Showing the surface plasmon resonance peak for each gold and silver NPs, we observe a phenomenon a blue shift in absorption peak with increased laser energy, which signifies a reduction in the dimensions of the nanoparticles. The energy gap for samples was determined using Tauc’s relation, which were 1.52, 1.53, and 1.54 eV at laser energy 300, 500, and 700 mJ, respectively. The stability of the nanomaterials was assessed using zeta potential analysis, which measured the stability of every specimen in a DMF solution. The computed zeta potentials for the samples were − 19.6 mV, − 29.3 mV, and − 41.6 mV, at laser energy of 300, 500, and 700 mJ, respectively. After that, Au@Ag@Au core-double shells nanoparticles were tested as novel antimicrobial agents against Streptococcus mutans as well as Klebsiella pneumoniae. The results showed that the Au@Ag@Au core-double shells were great agents for killing both types of bacteria and inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation. The results collectively indicated that Au@Ag@Au NPs had the potential to serve as an alternate antibacterial agent.