Mesoporous silica shell in a core@shell nanocomposite design enables antibacterial action with multiple modes of action

Abstract

Core@shell structured nanocomposites have received significant attention for providing a combinatory antibacterial mode of action. A rational identification of the accommodated unit’s role in the core@shell nanostructure is needed in order to solidify whether antibacterial synergism could be provided within the same core-shell structure against bacterial cell growth. Herein, a novel nanostructure(s) composed of a cerium oxide core and a porous silica shell (CeO2@pSiO2) with curcumin and lectin accommodation was prepared, and the antibacterial synergism provided by the nanocomposite was identified. The resulting spherical-shaped nanostructure CeO2@pSiO2 allowed the accommodation of curcumin loading (9 w/w%) and lectin (concanavalin A) coating (15 w/w%). The antibacterial synergism was tested using a minimal inhibitory concentration assay against Escherichia coli gram-negative bacterial strain. Furthermore, the bacterial cell disruption mechanisms induced by the curcumin-loaded and concanavalin A-coated CeO2@pSiO2 core@shell structure, namely the nanoantibiotic (nano-AB) and its design components were identified individually. Our findings revealed that mesoporous silica shell around the cerium oxide core within the nano-AB design aiding the accommodation of curcumin and concanavalin A promoted the destruction of the motility of the bacterial cells and the permeability of the inner and outer bacterial cell membranes. Our findings strongly indicate the promising potential of a mesoporous silica shell around cerium oxide core nanoparticles to provide synergistic antibacterial treatment and attack the bacterial cells by different action mechanisms.

Advances in Nanomaterials and Composites Based on Mesoporous Materials as Antimicrobial Agents: Relevant Applications in Human Health

“…Pamukçu and colleagues proposed an intriguing approach based on core-shell structured nanocomposites for their synergistic antimicrobial effects [90]. They introduced a nanosystem comprising a cerium oxide core and a porous silica shell (CeO 2 @pSiO 2 ) that accommodated CCM and lectin.…”