Journal article

Publication year: 2011

Pages: 395-405

Journal: Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology

Volume number: 7

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 1550-7033

eISSN: 1550-7041

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2011.1293

Publisher: American Scientific Publishers

Abstract: 
Many sulfur compounds are known to exhibit widespread antimicrobial activity. The latter is often the result of an intricate redox biochemistry whereby reactive sulfur species, such as organic polysulfanes, interact with pivotal cellular signaling pathways. The S-8 unit in elemental sulfur resembles certain aspects of the chemistry of polysulfanes. As a consequence, water-soluble S-8-sulfur nanoparticles are active against some smaller organisms, including nematodes, yet are non-toxic against human cells. In contrast, selenium and tellurium nanoparticles are less active. Together, the ease of production of the sulfur nanoparticles, their chemical stability in aqueous dispersion, amenable physical properties and selective toxicity, turn sulfur nanoparticles into promising antimicrobial prototypes for medical as well as agricultural applications.

Harvard Citation style: Schneider, T., Baldauf, A., Ba, L., Jamier, V., Khairan, K., Sarakbi, M., et al. (2011) Selective Antimicrobial Activity Associated with Sulfur Nanoparticles, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, 7(3), pp. 395-405. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2011.1293

APA Citation style: Schneider, T., Baldauf, A., Ba, L., Jamier, V., Khairan, K., Sarakbi, M., Reum, N., Schneider, M., Röseler, A., Becker, K., Burkholz, T., Winyard, P., Kelkel, M., Diederich, M., & Jacob, C. (2011). Selective Antimicrobial Activity Associated with Sulfur Nanoparticles. Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology. 7(3), 395-405. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2011.1293