Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB)-Loaded SiO₂–Ag Mesoporous Nanocomposite as an Efficient Antibacterial Agent

• Main Authors: Aiganym Abduraimova, Anara Molkenova, Assem Duisembekova, Tomiris Mulikova, Damira Kanayeva, Timur Sh. Atabaev
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: mesoporous silica; silver; nanocomposite; cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; antibacterial activity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/2/477

To date, Ag-based nanomaterials have demonstrated a high potential to overcome antibiotic resistance issues. However, bare Ag nanomaterials are prone to agglomeration in the biological environment, which results in a loss of antibacterial activity over time. Furthermore, it is still challenging to collect small-sized Ag nanomaterials right after the synthesis process. In this study, spherical-shaped Ag nanoparticles (NPs) (~6–10 nm) were attached on the surface of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) (~100–110 nm). Antibacterial activity tests suggested that the obtained nanocomposite can be used as a highly efficient antibacterial agent against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) recalculated to pure Ag weight in nanocomposite was found to be ~1.84 µg/mL (for <i>Escherichia coli</i>) and ~0.92 µg/mL (for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>)—significantly smaller compared to values reported to date. The improved antibacterial activity of the prepared nanocomposite can be attributed to the even distribution of non-aggregated Ag NPs per volume unit and the presence of CTAB in the nanocomposite pores.