New family of glasses with antimicrobial properties*

A total of twelve samples (assigned BG 1 through 12) were synthesized with the base composition of  using a melt-quenching technique. Powdered samples were prepared manually. BG 7 and 8 contained SiO_2, which increased the melting temperature causing them to be partly ceramic. The inclusion of Na₂O in BG 8 lowered the required temperature, forming a more amorphous material.

To assess the antimicrobial properties, Staphylococcus aureus culture and powder samples were incubated with a 1 and 5 mg/ml concentration for 24 hours at 37^oC. They were plated triplicate after 1:9 dilutions in PBS. Colony-forming units were counted and averaged.

Testing the antibacterial properties, BG 7 and 8 were the least effective along with BG 10 that contained B₂O₃ not P₂O₅ like other samples. At 5 mg/ml, BG 9, 11, and 12 were the most effective. All contained Zn, but BG 11 and 12 included Cu. BG 9 proved to be effective at 1 mg/ml.

In further expansion of this work, testing both bulk and nano powder forms could show different behavior because of surface area variance.