Metal-loaded porous polyhydroxylic matrices with improved antibacterial
properties
Abstract
Metal-loaded porous matrices based on clay and cellulose materials
displayed appreciable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli
DH5α and Bacillus subtilis 168. BoltornTMH20 polyol dendrimer supported
by montmorillonite and cellulose turned out to be effective porous
matrices for Cu0 and Ag0 nanoparticles dispersion. The resulting
organoclay and polyol-coated cellulose were found to stabilize Cu0 and
Ag0 nanoparticles through their terminal hydroxyl groups. This was
explained in terms of Lewis Acid-Base interaction between the electron
pair of the oxygen atom belonging to the terminal hydroxyl and metal
species as supported by XPS data. The metal retention strength was found
to correlate with the antibacterial activity, surface basicity and
hydrophilic character. These findings are of great importance, because
they open promising prospects for vegetal fibers and clay-supported
drugs to treat dermatological and gastro-intestinal infections.