Silica-Gel Incorporated Biosynthesized-Silver Nanoparticles for Sustainable Antimicrobial Treatment of Brackish Water Aquaculture

Abstract

Treatment of brackish water from pathogenic microbes is crucial for sustainable aquaculture production and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. However, the treatment of brackish water is still challenging due to the high salinity and the high antimicrobial resistance. Here, we exploit a facile and effective approach to synthesize silica gel embedded with silver nanoparticles (7–48 nm) for broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The incorporation of silver nanoparticles into silica gel (AgNPs@SG) is confirmed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption, and transmission electron microscopy. The AgNPs@SG material exhibits wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity against the studied microorganisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans) due to preventing the aggregation of silver nanoparticles and their effective contact with the microorganisms. Most importantly, the applicability of the synthesized AgNPs@SG for the microbial treatment of brackish water is investigated on different water samples collected from Manzala Lake. Remarkably, the amount of viable bacteria in the brackish water decreases by about 93% using AgNPs@SG material that not only combats antibiotic-resistant strains but also works under harsh conditions such as multiple-source contamination, high eutrophic state, and salinity.