Production of Cu@SiO₂ Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Antibacterial Properties

Antimicrobial agents based on organic materials have limited use owing to their low heat resistance and short lifetimes. Therefore, various studies on antibacterial agents that are based on inorganic material systems are increasingly being performed to supplement them. In this study, Cu@SiO₂ core-shells are fabricated using Cu cores and SiO₂ shells, and are known to have antimicrobial effects. The core-shell was coated with SiO₂ using the sol-gel method. Experiments were conducted using X-ray diffraction and the shaking flask method (KS J 4206) to evaluate the characteristics of the core-shell. In the case of X-ray diffraction, both the Cu core and the core-shell fabricated using the sol-gel process were characterized. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated using the KS J 4206 method for their antibacterial properties. Through this study, it is confirmed that a Cu@SiO₂ core-shell can be fabricated via the sol-gel method, and that Cu with a core-shell structure has antibacterial effects.