Fig. 4.

(a) SEM observation and (b) Live/Dead staining of bacteria morphology after cultured with samples for 24 h, blue circles marked the morphology of dead cells and the leakage of their contents; Quantitative assessment for antimicrobial activity of different groups against S.aureus: (c) the antibacterial ability of AP/SF specimen; (d) the bactericidal effects of Ag/SF specimen; (e) the synergetic effects of AgNPs/AMPs complex; Short-term (f) and long-term (g) killing effect against planktonic bacteria; (h) the short-term killing effect against adherent bacteria; (i) protein leakage and (j) Relative ROS level; (k) Schematic illustration of bacteria-triggered synergistic bactericidal mechanism of AgNPs/AMPs complex, 1 referred to AMPs/AgNPs complexes destroying the membrane structure, 2 referred to causing changes in ion channels, 3 referred to destroying the protein structure in the membrane, 4 referred to causing DNA denaturation, and 5 referred to generating reactive oxygen radicals.