BACKGROUND:  Recent efforts involving bactericides have been focused on ways to aid in the delivery of this material to sites that can benefit from its application. Incorporating antimicrobial materials into bandages for use in wound and burn treatment and into membranes for water purification are some of the attractive opportunities for these materials.

INNOVATION:  Researchers at UCLA have identified a method for encapsulating antimicrobial nanoparticles inside of mesoporous silica particles, to allow for the controlled release of chemicals for antimicrobial applications. The robust mesoporous silica shell protects the core antimicrobial nanoparticles from aggregation and fast dissolution, and provides support for surface modification with functional groups.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS 

• Antimicrobial treatments
• Treated bandages
• Water purification membranes

ADVANTAGES

• Prevents aggregation
• Compatible in biological environments
• Inexpensive and non-hazardous synthesis
• Ability to be incorporated into fabrics and a variety of substrates

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2009-002