银与光所产生的协同效应的微生物灭活机理及其家电产品中的应用

研究发现在使用紫外线(UV-A, 395 nm)进行照射时, 银溶液对微生物的灭活作用得到增强, 特别是对真核微生物的灭活作用得到显著增强。为解明这种银与光所产生的协同效应的微生物灭活机理, 使用电子自旋共振仪(Electron spin resonance, ESR)对溶液进行检测, 并采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)以及测定线粒体酶活性等方法, 从微生物形态学及生理学特性方面对真核微生物细胞进行分析, 推测出了其作用机理。分析认为, 在光照下氧化银(Ag2O)被激活并与水分子发生反应产生羟基自由基(·OH)。羟基自由基破坏真核微生物的细胞壁, 失活其细胞内线粒体酶活性, 从而引起真核微生物细胞死灭。在实验中, 作为原核微生物的代表使用金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus), 作为真核微生物的代表使用了白色念珠菌(Candida albicans)和须癣毛癣菌(Trichophyton Mentagrophytes), 并对各种类进行了检测对比。本文还阐述了把这项微生物增殖抑制技术具体应用于洗衣机的具体结果, 并进行了讨论。

Inactivation Mechanism of Microorganisms by the Synergy of Silver and Light Irradiation, and the Application in Household Electrical Appliances

The inactivation efficiencies of microorganisms were found to be enhanced by using silver solution together with ultraviolet light (UV-A, 395 nm) irradiation. The inactivation efficiencies were improved remarkably especially in eukaryotic microorganism. To make clear the inactivation mechanism of microorganisms by the combination effect of silver and ultraviolet light irradiation, the resultant solution was characterized by ESR (Electron spin resonance, ESR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the method for measuring enzyme activity of mitochondria for eukaryotic cells were used to conjecture the mechanism, by analysis of the morphological and physiologic changes in eukaryotic cells. It is proposed that silver oxide (Ag2O) can be activated by ultraviolet light irradiation and react with water molecules to produce hydroxyl radical (?OH). Hydroxyl radical could damage cell wall of eukaryotic microorganisms, and inactivate the enzyme activity of mitochondria of eukaryotic microorganism cells. Accordingly, eukaryotic microorganism cells would die. In the experiment, Staphylococcus aureus was employed as the representative of prokaryotic microorganisms, and Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes as the representative of eukaryotic microorganisms, respectively. Moreover, the results of the technology applied to washing machine were presented and discussed.