Antibacterial Activity of Mesoporous Silica Nanofibers

In this research, the fabrication of MCM-۴۱ mesoporous material nanofibers by an electrospinning technique was performed. The MCM-۴۱ nanofibers (MCM-۴۱ NFs) as a novel host on the incorporation of silver has been studied in [Ag(NH۳)۲]NO۳ precursor solution through the heat-treatment process. The formation of silver-loaded MCM-۴۱ NFs at various calcinating temperatures were also studied. The silver-containing materials (Ag/MCM-۴۱ NFs) were characterized using Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy, powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UltraViolet-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that both Ag and Ag۲O NanoParticles (NPs) were loaded in MCM-۴۱ NFs at different calcinating temperature. Silver compounds with a diameter of ۱۰−۱۵ nm were highly dispersed in the framework of mesoporous silica nanofibers. The results indicated that Ag loading contents on the MCM-۴۱NFs were ۱۰.۵۳ wt%. These Ag/MCM-۴۱ NFs Possess an enhanced antibacterial effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by preventing the aggregation of silver NPs and continuously releasing silver ions. In general, the silver-containing materials with more Ag۲O NPs demonstrated an excellent antibacterial activity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) obtained ۳۰ and ۶۰ µg/mLfor the silver-containing MCM-۴۱ NFs with more Ag۲O NPs against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. MCM-۴۱ type nanofibers play an important role in the antibacterial activity of nanocomposites.

Keywords:

MCM-۴۱ nanofibers , Ag/MCM-۴۱ nanofibers , Antibacterial activity , Ag۲O-MCM-۴۱ nanofibers , Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy