Reactive-oxygen-species-mediated mechanism for photoinduced antibacterial and antiviral activities of Ag3PO4

Cubic-shaped Ag 3 PO 4 crystals with a mean size of 1 μm were synthesized by a precipitation method from a mixed solution of AgNO 3 , Na 2 HPO 4 , and triethanolamine. The antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli , Listeria innocua , and Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 in both the absence and presence of Ag 3 PO 4 under dark conditions and in the presence of Ag 3 PO 4 under red-light (625 nm) and blue-light (460 nm) irradiation were examined. The concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also measured in the antibacterial action of the Ag 3 PO 4 against Escherichia coli. The photoinduced enhancement of the Ag 3 PO 4 antibacterial activity under blue-light irradiation is explained by the formation of ROS during the antibacterial action of the Ag 3 PO 4 . Moreover, the antiviral activity of Ag 3 PO 4 against amphotropic 10A1 murine leukemia virus enhanced under blue-light irradiation via ROS production. These results provide an insight into extended bio-applications of Ag 3 PO 4 .