Dual functional AgNPs-M13 phage composite serves as antibacterial film and sensing probe for monitoring the corrosion of chromium-containing dental alloys

The preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with microbe or plant tissues as bio-template offers green approach, while it suffers from low harvest and purification is needed. Herein, we propose a facile protocol for one-pot preparation of AgNPs using M13 phage as bio-template by simply mixing AgNO3 solution with alkali M13 phage. In the obtained AgNPs-M13 phage composite, Cr(III) selectively coordinates with the amino residues on phage surface and leads to the aggregation of AgNPs through the bridging of M13 phages. This makes it feasible for colorimetric sensing of Cr(III) by measuring the absorbance ratio of AgNPs at 600 and 405 nm, which provides a LOD of 14 nmol/L. The composite also showed favorable bactericidal activity for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, making it a promising candidate as antibacterial film in chromium-containing dental alloys and meanwhile serve as a sensing probe for monitoring the corrosion of the dental alloys.