Viability and antibacterial properties of Ba_2-x Ag_xFeMoO₆(x=0.0, 0.05) double perovskite oxides

Double perovskite Ba₂FeMoO₆ (BFMO) and doped with Ag ions were synthesized via the sol-gel method. The structural and antibacterial properties and viability of the samples were systematically investigated. The results of the Rietveld refinement indicated that both samples exhibited a single phase with cubic structure and space group Fm-3m. The substitution of Ag ions led to an increase in the unit cell and lattice parameters of BFMO, resulting in a change in the sample's morphology. The direct band gap (∼2eV) was measured for samples by Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). Antibacterial activity of the Ba₂FeMoO₆ and Ba_1.95Ag_0.05FeMoO₆ samples was assessed on the Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and the Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) using the spread plate method. The results showed that the samples were effective against Staphylococcus aureus but not against Escherichia coli. The sample doped with Ag ions showed a higher antibacterial effect than the pristine sample. An MTT assay of the normal fibroblast cell line treated with an Ag-doped sample showed a higher percentage of viability.