Green approach in metal nanoparticle-embedded antimicrobial coatings from vegetable oils and oil-based materials

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a method of making nanoparticles and uses thereof. In particular, the invention relates to methods of making metal nanoparticles (MNPs). The invention also relates to antimicrobial uses of the nanoparticles.

1 . An antimicrobial composition, comprising a homogeneous mixture of a drying oil and metallic nanoparticles having a particle size of 1 to 50 nm,
 wherein the composition is effective as an antimicrobial.   
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drying oil is selected from cashew nut shell liquid, linoleic acid, poppy oil, soyabean oil, urushi oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, tung oil, alkyd resins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein metallic nanoparticles comprise a metal selected from silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, cadmium, zinc, copper, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles are provided on at least a portion of the surface of the composition and are present in an amount that is antimicrobially effective and that is less than a cytotoxic silver concentration. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles are present in an amount ranging from more than 1 nmol/L to less than 1 μmol/L. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles are dispersed in the drying oil. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles are present in an amount of 1 to 2,000 ppm. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 7 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles are present in an amount of 5 to 1,000 ppm. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 8 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles are present in an amount of 10 to 250 ppm. 
     
     
         10 . A method for preparing metal nanoparticles in a drying oil, comprising the steps of:
 (a) mixing a solution comprising metal ions with a solution comprising a drying oil in the presence of an organic solvent or an organometallic compound;   (b) agitating the mixture for a period of 12 to 24 hours; and   (c) polymerizing the drying oil by autoxidation to form metal nanoparticles in a polymerized oil.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the metal nanoparticles are hydrophobic. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the metal ions are selected from gold, silver, nickel, platinum, palladium, cadmium, zinc, copper, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the drying oil is selected from cashew nut shell liquid, linoleic acid, poppy oil, soyabean oil, urushi oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, tung oil, alkyd resins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein step (a) occurs in the presence of an organic solvent selected from n-hexane, chloroform, heptane, octane, petroleum ether, benzene, toluene, turpentine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein step (a) occurs in the presence of an organometallic compound selected from silver benzoate, metal acetyl acetonates, metal carbonyls, nonpolar metal salts, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the organometallic compound is selected from iron acetyl acetonate, platinum acetyl acetonate, nickel acetyl acetonate, cobalt acetyl acetonate, cobalt acetate, iron petacarbonyl, and combinations thereof.