AgNP/Clay inhibited bacterial proliferation. FE-SEM images showed the untreated (A) and the AgNP/Clay-encapsulated S. aureus (B). In contrast to the proliferative E. coli onclay (C), indicated by arrowheads, E. coli on AgNP/Clay were cytostatic and non-proliferative after 2 h incubation at 37 C (D). Cells were observed and recorded at 10 min intervals inthe same field by confocal microscopy