Study on the antibacterial mechanism of copper ion- and neodymium ion-modified α-zirconium phosphate with better antibacterial activity and lower cytotoxicity

Abstract

To improve the antibacterial activity of Cu2+, a series of Cu2+ and/or Nd3+-modified layered α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) was prepared and characterized, and the antibacterial activities of the prepared Cu2+ and/or Nd3+-modified ZrP on Gram-negative Escherichia coli were investigated. The results showed that the basal spacing of ZrP was not obviously affected by the incorporation of Cu2+, but the basal spacing of the modified ZrP changed into an amorphous state with increasing additions of Nd3+. An antibacterial mechanism showed that Cu2+ and Nd3+ could enter into E. coli cells, leading to changes in ion concentrations and leakage of DNA, RNA and protein. The Cu2+- and Nd3+-modified ZrP, combining the advantages of Cu2+ and Nd3+, displayed excellent additive antibacterial activity and lower cytotoxicity, suggesting the great potential application as an antibacterial powder for microbial control.