Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A novel method for bacterial inactivation using electrosprayed water nanostructures

Journal of Nanoparticle Research volume 14, Article number: 1027 (2012) Cite this article

Abstract

This is a study focusing on the potential to deactivate biological agents (bacteria and endospores) using engineered water nanostructures (EWNS). The EWNS were generated using an electrospray device that collects water by condensing atmospheric water vapor on a Peltier-cooled electrode. A high voltage is applied between the collection electrode and a grounded electrode resulting in aerosolization of the condensed water and a constant generation of EWNS. Gram-negative Serratia marcescens, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus atrophaeus endospores were placed on stainless steel coupons and exposed to generated EWNS at multiple time intervals. Upon exposures, the bacteria were recovered and placed on nutrient agar to grow, and the colony forming units were counted. Ozone levels as well as air temperature and relative humidity were monitored during the experiments. Qualitative confirmation of bacterial destruction was also obtained by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, important EWNS aerosol properties such as particle number concentration as a function of size as well as the average surface charge of the generated EWNS were measured using real-time instrumentation. It was shown that the novel electrospray method can generate over time a constant flux of EWNS. EWNS have a peak number concentration of ~8,000 particles per cubic centimeter with a modal peak size around 20 nm. The average surface charge of the generated EWNS was found to be 10 ± 2 electrons per particle. In addition, it was shown that the EWNS have the potential to deactivate both bacteria types from surfaces. At the same administrate dose, however, the endospores were not inactivated. This novel method and the unique properties of the generated EWNS could potentially be used to develop an effective, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive method for bacteria inactivation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Archer GL (1998) Staphylococcus aureus: a well-armed pathogen. Clin Infect Dis 26:1179–1181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atrih A, Foster S (2002) Bacterial endospores the ultimate survivors. Int Dairy J 12:217–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolon M (2011) Hand hygiene. Infect Dis Clin N Am 25:21–43. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2010.11.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boys BL, Kuprowski MC, Noël JJ, Konermann L (2009) Protein oxidative modifications during electrospray ionization: solution phase electrochemistry or corona discharge-induced radical attack? Anal Chem 81:4027–4034. doi:10.1021/ac900243p

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaki M, Fernandez-Ocana AM, Valderrama R et al (2008) Involvement of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNS and ROS) in sunflower–mildew interaction. Plant Cell Physiol 50:265–279. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcn196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CY, Wu LC, Chen HY, Chung YC (2010) Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in water using photocatalysis with fixed TiO2. Water Air Soil Pollut 212:231–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis JT, Foltz E, Blakemore WS (1970) Serratia marcescens. A pathogen of increasing clinical importance. JAMA 214:2190–2192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Juan L, La Mora De J (1997) Charge and size distributions of electrospray drops. J Colloid Interface Sci 186:280–293. doi:10.1006/jcis.1996.4654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demokritou P, Gupta T, Koutrakis P (2002) A high volume apparatus for the condensational growth of ultrafine particles for inhalation toxicological studies. Aerosol Sci Technol 36:1061–1072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujishima A, Zhang X (2006) Titanium dioxide photocatalysis: present situation and future approaches. C R Chim 9:750–760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furuhashi K, Shigemoto N, Morikawa M (2004) Ion generator and air conditioner. US Patent 7,998,419. Filed May 10, 2004, and issued Aug 16, 2010

  • Gaskell SJ (1997) Electrospray: principles and practice. J Mass Spectrom 32:677–688

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert R, Turnbull P, Parry J, Kramer J (1981) Bacillus cereus and other bacillus species: their part in food poisoning and other clinical infections. In: Goodfellow M, Berkeley RCW (eds) The aerobic endospore-forming bacteria: classification and identification, 1st edn. Academic Press, London, pp 297–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta T, Demokritou P, Koutrakis P (2004) Development and performance evaluation of a high-volume ultrafine particle concentrator for inhalation toxicological studies. Inhal Toxicol 16:851–862. doi:10.1080/08958370490506664

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hejazi A, Falkiner FR (1997) Serratia marcescens. J Med Microbiol 46:903–912

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jose-Luis Sagripanti AB (1999) Bacterial spores survive treatment with commercial sterilants and disinfectants. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:4255

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung WK, Koo HC, Kim KW et al (2008) Antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of the silver ion in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Appl Environ Microbiol 74:2171–2178. doi:10.1128/AEM.02001-07

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SH, Woo KS, Liu BYH, Zachariah MR (2005) Method of measuring charge distribution of nanosized aerosols. J Colloid Interface Sci 282:46–57. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2004.08.066

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kincaid D, Longley T (1989) A water droplet evaporation and temperature model. Trans ASAE 32:457–463

    Google Scholar 

  • Komanapalli IR, Lau BHS (1998) Inactivation of bacteriophage k, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans by ozone. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 49:766–769. doi:10.1007/s002530051244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer A, Schwebke I, Kampf G (2006) How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 6:130. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-6-130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kusumaningrum H (2003) Survival of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel surfaces and cross-contamination to foods. Int J Food Microbiol 85:227–236. doi:10.1016/S0168-1605(02)00540-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewinski N, Colvin V, Drezek R (2008) Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles. Small 4:26–49. doi:10.1002/smll.200700595

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li K-Y, Tu H, Ray AK (2005) Charge limits on droplets during evaporation. Langmuir 21:3786–3794. doi:10.1021/la047973n

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linsebigler AL, Lu G, John T, Yates J (1995) Photocatalysis on TiO2 surfaces: principles, mechanisms, and selected results. Chem Rev 95:735–758

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowy FD (1998) Staphylococcus aureus infections. N Engl J Med 339:520–532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luber P, Brynestad S, Topsch D et al (2006) Quantification of campylobacter species cross-contamination during handling of contaminated fresh chicken parts in kitchens. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:66–70. doi:10.1128/AEM.72.1.66-70.2006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maloney MJ, Wray BB, DuRant RH et al (1987) Effect of an electronic air cleaner and negative ionizer on the population of indoor mold spores. Ann Allergy 59:192–194

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mead PS, Slutsker L, Dietz V et al (1999) Food-related illness and death in the United States. Emerg Infect Dis 5:607–625

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen J, Maus C, Rzesanke D, Leisner T (2011) Charge induced stability of water droplets in subsaturated environment. Atmos Chem Phys 11:2031–2037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osseiran N, Hartl G (2006) WHO | Almost a quarter of all disease caused by environmental exposure. In: World Health Organization. Accessed 11 Jan 2012

  • Pradeep AT (2009) Noble metal nanoparticles for water purification: a critical review. Thin Solid Films 517:6441–6478. doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2009.03.195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rai M, Yadav A, Gade A (2009) Silver nanoparticles as a new generation of antimicrobials. Biotechnol Adv 27:76–83. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2008.09.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rayleigh LFRS (1882) On the equilibrium of liquid conducting masses charged with electricity. Philos Mag 14:184–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Redmond EC, Griffith CJ, Slader J, Humphrey TJ (2004) Microbiological and observational analysis of cross contamination risks during domestic food preparation. Br Food J 106:581–597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusin P, Maxwell S, Gerba C (2002) Comparative surface-to-hand and fingertip-to-mouth transfer efficiency of gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and phage. J Appl Microbiol 93:585–592

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rutala WA, Weber DJ (2001) Surface disinfection: should we do it? J Hosp Inf 48:S64–S68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutala WA, Weber DJ (2008) Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008. cdcgov 158

  • Salton MR, Kim K-S (1996) Structure. In: Baron S (ed) Medical microbiology, 1st edn. University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, pp 37–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Sato T, Koizumi Y, Taya M (2003) Photocatalytic deactivation of airborne microbial cells on TiO2-loaded plate. Biochem Eng J 14:149–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott E (1999) Hygiene issues in the home. Am J Infect Control 27:S22–S25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seto T, Maekawa T, Osone S et al. (2012) Formation of highly charged nanodroplets by condensation–electrospray device. Chem Eng Sci 1–4. doi:10.1016/j.ces.2012.01.062

  • Shimokage T, Saimoto M, Okumoto S et al (2005) Method of analyzing components in fine water droplets generated by electrostatic atomization. MEW Tech Rep 53:11–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Taflin DC, Ward TL, Davis EJ (1989) Electrified droplet fission and the Rayleigh limit. Langmuir 5:376–384. doi:10.1021/la00086a016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang K, Gomez A (1994) Generation of monodisperse water droplets from electrosprays in a corona-assisted cone-jet mode. J Colloid Interface Sci 25:1237–1249

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thurman RB, Gerba CP, Bitton G (1989) The molecular mechanisms of copper and silver ion disinfection of bacteria and viruses. Crit Rev Environ Control 18:295–315. doi:10.1080/10643388909388351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US Environmental Protection Agency (1997) Bacillus subtilis final risk assessment. http://wwwepagov/oppt/biotech/pubs/fra/fra009htm. Accessed 2 May 2012

  • Wilm M (2011) Principles of electrospray ionization. Mol Cell Proteomics 10: M111.009407. doi:10.1074/mcp.M111.009407

  • World Health Organization (2008) Foodborne disease outbreaks: guidelines for investigation and control. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamauchi T, Suda H, Matsui Y (2007) Development of home appliances using electrostatic atomization. J Aerosol Res 22:5–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamauchi T, Maekawa T, Seto T et al (2008) Analysis of the number of charge in the fine water droplets produced by electrostatic atomization. Earozoru Kenkyu 23:108–113

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The Authors would like to acknowledge Panasonic Ltd and the Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology at the Harvard School of Public health for their generous support. The authors would also like to thank Robert Anderson from TSI Corporation (Shoreview, MN) for lending the Aerosol Electrometer instrument.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Georgios Pyrgiotakis, James McDevitt & Philip Demokritou

  2. Panasonic Corporation, Appliances Company, 2-3-1-2 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu City, Shiga, 525-8555, Japan

    Toshiyuki Yamauchi

Authors
  1. Georgios Pyrgiotakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James McDevitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Toshiyuki Yamauchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Philip Demokritou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgios Pyrgiotakis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pyrgiotakis, G., McDevitt, J., Yamauchi, T. et al. A novel method for bacterial inactivation using electrosprayed water nanostructures. J Nanopart Res 14, 1027 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1027-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1027-x

Keywords

search

Navigation