Aqueous synthesis of ZnTe/dendrimer nanocomposites and their antimicrobial activity: implications in therapeutics

Abstract

The present strategy proposes a simple and single step aqueous route for synthesizing stable, fluorescent ZnTe/dendrimer nanocomposites with varying dendrimer terminal groups. In these hybrid materials, the fluorescence of the semiconductor combines with the biomimetic properties of the dendrimer making them suitable for various biomedical applications. The ZnTe nanocomposites thus obtained demonstrate bactericidal activity against enteropathogenic bacteria without having toxic effects on the human erythrocytes. The average size of the ZnTe nanoparticles within the dendrimer matrix was in the range of 2.9-6.0 nm, and they have a good degree of crystallinity with a hexagonal crystal phase. The antibacterial activities of the ZnTe/dendrimer nanocomposites (ZnTe DNCs) as well other semiconductor nanocomposites were evaluated against enteropathogenic bacteria including multi-drug resistant Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). ZnTe DNCs had significant antibacterial activity against strains of V. cholerae and ETEC with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 64 to 512 μg ml(-1) and minimum bactericidal concentrations ranging from 128 to 1000 μg ml(-1). Thus, the observed results suggest that these water-soluble active nanocomposites have potential for the treatment of enteric diseases like diarrhoea and cholera.

In situ thermal synthesis of novel polyimide nanocomposite films containing organo-modified layered double hydroxide: morphological, thermal and mechanical properties

“…FT-IR, 1 This result verifies that LDH-CA was successfully formed in the hybrid PI composites by the thermal imidization techniques (Fig. 3c-3e).…”

Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Dendrimer-Encapsulated Zero-Valent Ni Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents

“…It has been reported that pure G4-PAMAM dendrimers exhibit some antimicrobial activity against E. coli at higher ISRN Nanomaterials concentrations, which is due to penetration of the cell membrane by PAMAM dendrimers containing primary amine surface functional groups [31]. One may speculate that the dendrimer solution is adding to (or even dominating) the antimicrobial effect of the formed Ni nanoparticles.…”

“…That is, Ni nanoparticles interact with the building components of the outer layer of the bacteria disrupting the cell wall and finally preventing further bacteria, and it has been suggested that antimicrobial activity should increase depending on particle size. Other reports have indicated that the larger surface-area-to-volume ratio exhibited by the smaller particles along with an increased penetrating ability will result in particles with increased effective binding on the outer membrane and cell membranes of organisms [31]. Hence, given the smaller sizes of the Ni particles formed here (ca.…”

Amino-Terminated Generation 2 Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer as a Potential Broad-Spectrum, Nonresistance-Inducing Antibacterial Agent

“…Chemical modifications of PAMAM-NH 2 dendrimers were demonstrated to reduce their toxicities, but these modifications simultaneously reduced the antibacterial activities of the PAMAM-NH 2 dendrimers (11,16). To date, antibacterial research on PAMAM-NH 2 dendrimers has been limited to topical (17)(18)(19) and drug carrier applications (20)(21)(22). Insufficient data are available to determine whether PAMAM-NH 2 dendrimers could be used systemically as antibacterial agents.…”