%0 Journal Article
%T Tunable Silver-Functionalized Porous Frameworks for Antibacterial Applications
%A Adam F. Lee
%A Anthony C. Hilton
%A Brunella Barbero
%A Christopher M. A. Parlett
%A Karen Wilson
%A Lee J. Durndell
%A Luca Olivi
%A Mark A. Isaacs
%J Antibiotics | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2018
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics7030055
%X Abstract Healthcare-associated infections and the rise of drug-resistant bacteria pose significant challenges to existing antibiotic therapies. Silver nanocomposites are a promising solution to the current crisis, however their therapeutic application requires improved understanding of underpinning structure-function relationships. A family of chemically and structurally modified mesoporous SBA-15 silicas were synthesized as porous host matrices to tune the physicochemical properties of silver nanoparticles. Physicochemical characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) and porosimetry demonstrate that functionalization by a titania monolayer and the incorporation of macroporosity both increase silver nanoparticle dispersion throughout the silica matrix, thereby promoting Ag 2CO 3 formation and the release of ionic silver in simulated tissue fluid. The Ag 2CO 3 concentration within functionalized porous architectures is a strong predictor for antibacterial efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including C. difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). View Full-Tex
%K silver
%K antibacterial
%K titania
%K mesoporous
%K macroporous
%K surface functionalization
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/7/3/55