Development of poly-D-mannose-stabilized silver nanoparticles exhibiting antibacterial and antibiofilm properties

The control of foodborne pathogens, including <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Bacillus cereus</i>, represents a critical challenge in food safety, necessitating the development of novel antimicrobial agents with both efficacy and safety. In this study, hyperbranched poly-D-mannose was employed as a stabilizer to successfully synthesize silver nanoparticles with exceptional stability and dispersibility. The prepared PM-AgNPs demonstrated remarkable bactericidal and anti-biofilm activities while circumventing the use of potentially hazardous chemical stabilizers commonly employed in conventional nanoparticle synthesis. This advancement provides an innovative solution for pathogenic microorganism control during food processing and storage, offering a combination of high antimicrobial efficacy and biosafety. The excellent biocompatibility and controlled release characteristics of this system make it particularly suitable for preservation applications in high-risk food products such as meat and dairy items, thereby significantly contributing to the enhancement of food safety standards.