Raghunath, Chandan (2020) Antimicrobial metals and metal nanoparticles with focus on copper. Master's Thesis / Essay, Biomolecular Sciences.
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Abstract
Metals have been in commercial use since ancient times, be it as a precious commodity or a building material. The Ebers Papyrus in 1500BC mentions that metals such as copper have certain medicinal properties and have been used as a treatment for pathogenic diseases for a long time. Gradual advancements in the usage of metals as antimicrobials, paved the way for the modern scientific community to explore the depths of antimicrobial properties of certain metals in order to tackle various microbial threats to humanity. Antimicrobial metals such as silver, gold, copper, platinum and also heavy metals have the capacity to inhibit the growth of several pathogens with the release of their respective ions into the cell causing severe damage to the cell wall or membrane, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which damages the DNA, denatures proteins and in turn causing cell death. Metal nanoparticles (NPs) can be synthesised and used as effective drug molecules synergistically with antibiotics to tackle drug resistant pathogens. The redox capacity of copper makes it a very common antimicrobial and is highly effective as a surface contact induced pathogen killing and has applications in healthcare industries, water disinfection and agriculture. Copper can be used as a NP for drug delivery as well. KEYWORDS: Antimicrobial metals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), Metal nanoparticles (NPs), synergism.
Item Type: | Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay) |
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Supervisor name: | Scheffers, D.J. |
Degree programme: | Biomolecular Sciences |
Thesis type: | Master's Thesis / Essay |
Language: | English |
Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2020 12:35 |
Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2020 12:35 |
URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/23456 |
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