comparison of x-ray attenuation performance, antimicrobial properties, and cytotoxicity of silicone-based matrices containing bi2o3, pbo, or bi2o3/pbo nanoparticles

Background: application of the nanomaterials to preparing x-ray shields and successfully treating multiresistant microorganisms has attracted great attention in modern life.objective: this study aimed to prepare flexible silicone-based matrices containing bi2o3, pbo, or bi2o3/pbo nanoparticles and select a cost-effective, cytocompatible, and antibacterial/antifungal x-ray shield in clinical radiography.material and methods: in this experimental study, we prepared the nanoparticles by the modified biosynthesis method and fabricated the x-ray shields containing 20 wt% of the nanoparticles. the x-ray attenuation percentage and half value layer (hvl) of the shields were investigated for the photon energies in the range of 40-100 kvp in clinical radiography. the antibacterial/antifungal activities of the shields were evaluated using a colony count method for the gram-negative (escherichia coli), and gram-positive (enterococcus faecalis) bacteria, and candida albicans fungus. the shield toxicity was investigated on a549 cells.results: the highest x-ray attenuation percentage and the lowest hvl were obtained using the shield containing bi2o3 nanoparticles. although all shields displayed antimicrobial activity, the shield containing bi2o3/pbo nanoparticles showed the most effective reduction in the colony counts. both x-ray shields containing nano bi2o3 and bi2o3/pbo demonstrated high cytocompatibility on a549 cells at a concentration as high as 500 µg/ml. the shield with pbo nanoparticles was also cytocompatible at a concentration of 50 µg/ml.  conclusion: the best x-ray attenuation performance is attributed to the silicone-based matrix with nano bi2o3; however, the flexible shield with bi2o3/pbo nanoparticles can be cost-effective and cytocompatible with the best antibacterial/antifungal properties.