Metal ion-exchanged faujasite zeolites materials against clinically isolated multidrug-resistant bacteria

Metal ion-exchanged faujasite (FAU) type zeolite materials were developed as potential antimicrobial agents. Various metal ions, including silver, copper, and zinc ions, were loaded in these FAU zeolite structures using an ion exchange method, the final zeolite samples were characterized, and the presence of metal ions was confirmed. The antimicrobial activity against clinically isolated multidrug-resistant bacteria, including ESKAPE pathogens, was subsequently examined, and the antimicrobial activity was greatly enhanced compared with that of samples containing copper or zinc ions, when silver ions were encapsulated in mono- and bimetallic ion-zeolites; in particular, bimetallic ion-FAU zeolite showed much greater antimicrobial activity than other mono-ion FAU zeolites. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity is related to the silver content of the FAU zeolite. These results suggested that ion-exchanged zeolites have potential for use in fighting infections caused by pathogenic bacteria. The silver ion-FAU zeolite material showed potent therapeutic effects against in vivo bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria based on the construction of animal models of wound healing, and such materials could therefore serve as one of the most promising alternatives to kill multidrug-resistant bacteria in nosocomial or health care-associated diseases.