Silver(I) complexes as precursors to produce silver nanowires: structure characterization, antimicrobial activity and cell viability.

In this contribution a simple method has been employed to synthesis silver nanowires by thermal decomposition of silver complexes. Nanowires are the product of possible chemical reduction of metallic silver residue that remains after the thermal degradation process. Silver(I) complexes of quinolone antibacterial drugs sparfloxacin [Ag(SPHX)2·NO3]·3H2O (1) and enrofloxacin [Ag(ENRX)2·NO3]·2H2O (2) have been prepared and structurally characterized. In the literature the carboxylate and the carbonyl oxygen atoms were the most predominant coordination sites used for quinolones. The resulted complexes presented the drugs as monodentate ligands; however sparfloxacin displayed different behaviour than enrofloxacin. Sparfloxacin coordinated through the nitrogen atom of the piperazine ring, while enrofloxacin coordinated through carboxylate oxygen. Antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the reported complexes are evaluated using a modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion and MIC methods. High significant antimicrobial activity is recorded especially against Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus. In vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes is measured using MTT assay. The analysis of the cell test showed that the selected complexes displayed no significant cytotoxic response which opens up opportunities for creating further advances in therapeutic challenges. The functional diversity of the prepared silver complexes as precursors of producing nanowires is a subject of high interest in the field of material science. The prepared complexes represent a unique capability when set in the context of biomaterials for therapeutic actions and material engineering. This work provides insight into the mutual amenability of the prepared complexes which can be used to influence both cell-biomaterials interactions and in technical research community.