Silver silicalite zeolite nanomaterials for reducing

1 . A method of reducing an amount of a Candida auris biofilm on a surface, comprising:

contacting a composition with the surface,

wherein the composition reduces the amount of the Candida auris biofilm by at least 50% 24 hours after the contacting,

wherein the composition comprises:

silicalite; and

silver nanoparticles,

wherein an atomic ratio of Si to Ag is in a range of 25:1 to 1:1,

wherein particles of the composition have a spherical shape and an average size of 400-800 nm, and

wherein the silver nanoparticles have been isomorphously substituted in a matrix of the silicalite.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a surface area of 300-400 m 2 /g.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pore volume of 0.05 to 0.5 cm 3 /g.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has an average pore size distribution of 1-5 nm.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has both mesopores and micropores.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the mesopores and the micropores have a pore volume ratio of 1.5:1 to 1:1.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is at least 50% crystalline.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a template.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the composition comprises less than 20 wt. % of the template, based on a total weight of the composition.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the template is tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the particles of the composition are not agglomerated.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 2-7 wt. % Ag, 40-60 wt. % O, 1-3 wt. % Na, 5-15 wt. % C, and 25-40 wt. % Si.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the silver nanoparticles have a cubic crystal system.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the silver nanoparticles are spherical and have an average diameter of 1-20 nm.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the silver nanoparticles are not agglomerated in the composition.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is in a hospital.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition reduces the amount of the Candida auris biofilm by at least 80% 24 hours after the contacting.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition attaches to a cell surface and at least partially penetrates a Candida auris cell.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is made by:

adding silica in an alkaline solution to form a first solution;

adding a silver salt into the first solution to form a second solution;

adding a template into the second solution to form a third solution;

hydrothermally treating the third solution for 10-100 hours to form a precipitate; and

filtering, drying and calcining the precipitate to obtain the composition.