Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of thymol loaded SBA-15 mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present study, SBA-15 mesoporous nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method and functionalized with amino group by post grafting method (SBA-15-NH2), then thymol was loaded into SBA-15-NH2 (SBA-15-NH2@ thymol). The SBA-15-NH2 mesoporous silica and SBA-15-NH2@ thymol nanoparticles were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Vis diffused reflectance (DRS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) techniques. The antibacterial effect of thymol and SBA-15-NH2@thymol nanoparticles were investigated against pathogenic bacteria of S. aureus and E. coli. The zone of inhibition thymol and SBA-15-NH2@thymol were 26 mm and 14 mm against S. aureus. The zone of inhibition against E. coli was lower than that ofS. aureus. The most of antibacterial effect of thymol was seen at concentration of 40 mg/ml against S. aureus. Thymol and SBA-15-NH2@thymol show antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria.