Core-Shell Fabrication of an Extra-Antimicrobial Magnetic Agent with Synergistic Effect of Substrate Ligand to increase the antimicrobial activity of Ag Nanoclusters

In this work, a novel antimicrobial agent is synthesized. The metal‐chelating ligand EDTA is incorporated into silver nanoparticles to form a new cluster system which is enhanced in its efficacy to eliminate bacteria. Magnetic nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ were layer‐by‐layer coated with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, linked‐EDTA, and silver nanoclusters (Fe₃O₄@APTES–EDTA@Ag), respectively. All steps of nanocomposite preparation were characterized by the TEM, field emission scanning electron microscope, X‐ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Vibrating Sample Magnetometer, and Fourier transform infrared. A sequential nucleophilic reaction applied for layer‐by‐layer fabrication of these antimicrobial units which could maintain the functionality of linked‐EDTA as EDTA chelator. The linked‐EDTA sequesters Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions effectively, thereby removing these metallic ions which are necessary for cell‐wall …