Extracorporeal magnetic approach to reduce the unwanted side-effects and improve antibacterial activity of Ag/Fe O nanocomposites in rat.

While Ag nanoparticles hold great promise for broad spectrum antibacterial activity, the potential risks of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on human health remain a challenge. In this study, Ag/Fe O composites have been successfully prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and their magnetic and antibacterial properties have been assessed. In vivo results show that the antibacterial effect of 500 μg/mL Ag/Fe O nanocomposites was significantly higher than that of 1000 μg/mL AgNPs after 72 h of treatment (p < 0.01). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed that squamous epithelium and dermis collagen fibers formed in the Ag/Fe O group after 8 days treatment. Wound closure was significantly better for the Ag/Fe O group than for the AgNPs group. On the other hand, there was less Ag in blood, liver, and kidney in the Ag/Fe O group, as more Ag was retained in the wound. According to lactate dehydrogenase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and reactive oxygen species results, Ag/Fe O nanocomposites caused less unwanted side-effects. This work presents a new paradigm to reduce the unwanted side-effects of AgNPs and improve their antibacterial activity, providing a new avenue for wound healing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2029-2036, 2018.