Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf
Project Type
Student Scholarship
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Discovery
Presentation Type
Presentation
Abstract
Water contamination is a world-wide issue that causes the death of millions yearly. This comes from regularly tainted water with water borne pathogens, which is typically seen in undeveloped areas. As antibiotics are used more, more resistance is being seen, and thus newer methods of microbial contamination need to be developed. Silver nanoparticles have shown success in microbial contamination on petri dishes, but not in a water system. It was hypothesized that if silver nanoparticles were added to bacteria contaminated water they would be able to reduce the amount of bacteria present. Silver nanoparticles that are synthesized from plants such as Aloe vera are thought to be less toxic and thus safer for the environment. In this research study both the ability to decontaminate water and the toxicity of silver nanoparticles was tested. It was found that aloe-based silver nanoparticles at a high enough concentration are effective at decontaminating water containing pathogenic bacteria. There is further research needed to better understand the differences in silver nanoparticle concentrations needed and their mechanisms as well as their toxicity. As of now, silver nanoparticles are thought to be toxic and need further research before they can be released into the environment.
This research was conducted through the Pence-Boyce Research Summer Research Program.
Permission Type
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
The use of Aloe-based Silver Nanoparticles as a Possible Treatment for Contaminated Water
Reed 330
Water contamination is a world-wide issue that causes the death of millions yearly. This comes from regularly tainted water with water borne pathogens, which is typically seen in undeveloped areas. As antibiotics are used more, more resistance is being seen, and thus newer methods of microbial contamination need to be developed. Silver nanoparticles have shown success in microbial contamination on petri dishes, but not in a water system. It was hypothesized that if silver nanoparticles were added to bacteria contaminated water they would be able to reduce the amount of bacteria present. Silver nanoparticles that are synthesized from plants such as Aloe vera are thought to be less toxic and thus safer for the environment. In this research study both the ability to decontaminate water and the toxicity of silver nanoparticles was tested. It was found that aloe-based silver nanoparticles at a high enough concentration are effective at decontaminating water containing pathogenic bacteria. There is further research needed to better understand the differences in silver nanoparticle concentrations needed and their mechanisms as well as their toxicity. As of now, silver nanoparticles are thought to be toxic and need further research before they can be released into the environment.
This research was conducted through the Pence-Boyce Research Summer Research Program.