Functionalised Mesoporous Silica Thin Films as ROS-Generating Antimicrobial Coatings

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Microbiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for effective strategies against pathogenic microorganisms.
• Continuous disinfection of high-touch surfaces is a growing concern.
• There is a demand for advanced antimicrobial coatings as alternatives to traditional disinfection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, synthesize, and characterize a novel nanocomposite coating with antimicrobial properties.
• To investigate the mechanism of action, specifically the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• To evaluate the coating's efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacteria and assess its cytotoxicity.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a mesoporous SBA-15 silica matrix incorporating copper phosphonate groups.
• Characterization using microscopic observations and Raman spectroscopy.
• Assessment of ROS generation via fluorescence microscopy.
• Antimicrobial activity testing against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• Cytotoxicity evaluation on BALB/c3T3 mouse fibroblast and HeLa cells.

Main Results:

• The synthesized material's structure and molecular composition were confirmed.
• The copper phosphonate groups effectively catalyzed the generation of ROS.
• The nanocomposite coating demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria.
• No cytotoxicity was observed towards tested mammalian cell lines (fibroblast and HeLa cells).

Conclusions:

• The developed nanocomposite coating exhibits a promising antimicrobial mechanism through ROS generation.
• The material is structurally sound, effective against diverse bacteria, and safe for mammalian cells.
• This innovative coating holds significant potential for practical applications in combating microbial contamination.