Bismuth nanoparticles obtained by a facile synthesis method exhibit antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

Bismuth compounds are known for their activity against multiple microorganisms; yet, the antibiotic properties of bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) remain poorly explored. The objective of this work is to further the research of BiNPs for nanomedicine, particularly as a disinfectant and for future treatments. Stable PVP-coated BiNPs were produced by a chemical reduction process, in less than 30 minutes, in a heated alkaline glycine solution, by the chelation and reduction of the bismuth (III) ion; resulting in the generation of small, spheroid particles with a crystalline organization. We assessed the antibacterial and antifungal activity of bismuth nanoparticles. PVP-BiNPs showed potent antibacterial activity against the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity against the opportunistic pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, both under planktonic and biofilm growing conditions. Our results indicate that BiNPs represent promising antimicrobial nanomaterials, and this facile synthetic method may allow for further investigation of their activity against a variety of pathogenic microorganisms.