PEG-mesoporous material modified by superparamagnetic nanoparticles as a delivery system of cefotaxime

The fight against infectious bacterial diseases has been taking major steps forward by designing new nanodrugs and nanoscale biological carriers with unique physicochemical properties. Here, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-silica mesoporous material/superparamagnetic CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticle nanocomposite was synthesized using a facile chemical approach, and proposed as a carrier for the delivery of cefotaxime (CTX) drug. The resulting nanocomposite material and nanocomposite CTX drug carrier were characterized by different techniques. Antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite drug carrier was investigated against E.coli and S. aureus bacteria, and compared with that of commercial CTX drug. It was found that the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the nanocomposite drug carrier (1.25 and 5 μg/mL) were significantly less than those of the commercial drug (10 and 80 μg/mL) against the bacteria. Furthermore, enhanced performance of the nanocomposite CTX carrier for both the Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was evidenced.