Adsorption of Salmonella enteritidis by cetylpyridinium-exchanged montmorillonite clays

Antimicrobial activities and cellular responses to natural silicate clays and derivatives modified by cationic alkylamine salts

Nanometer-scale silicate platelet (NSP) materials were previously developed by increasing the interlayer space and exfoliation of layered silicate clays such as montmorillonite and synthetic fluorinated mica by the process of polyamine exfoliation. In this study, the antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of these nanometer-scale silicate clays were evaluated. The derivatives of NSP (NSP-S) which were modified by C18-fatty amine salts via ionic exchange association exhibited the highest antibacterial activity in the aqueous state among all clays. The high antibacterial activity, however, was accompanied by elevated cytotoxicity. The variations of cell surface markers (CD29 and CD44) and type I collagen expression of fibroblasts treated with the clays were measured to clarify the mechanism of the silicate-induced cytotoxicity. The signal transduction pathway involved the downregulation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which appeared to participate in silicate-induced cytotoxicity. This study helped to understand the antibacterial potential of NSP and the interaction of natural and modified clays with cellular activities.

Broad-spectrum in vitro antibacterial activities of clay minerals against antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens

OBJECTIVES

The capacity to properly address the worldwide incidence of infectious diseases lies in the ability to detect, prevent and effectively treat these infections. Therefore, identifying and analysing inhibitory agents are worthwhile endeavours in an era when few new classes of effective antimicrobials have been developed. The use of geological nanomaterials to heal skin infections has been evident since the earliest recorded history, and specific clay minerals may prove valuable in the treatment of bacterial diseases, including infections for which there are no effective antibiotics, such as Buruli ulcer and multidrug-resistant infections.

METHODS

We have subjected two iron-rich clay minerals, which have previously been used to treat Buruli ulcer patients, to broth culture testing of antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria to assess the feasibility of using clay minerals as therapeutic agents.

RESULTS

One specific mineral, CsAg02, demonstrated bactericidal activity against pathogenic Escherichia coli, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacterium marinum, and a combined bacteriostatic/bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus, penicillin-resistant S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Mycobacterium smegmatis, whereas another mineral with similar structure and bulk crystal chemistry, CsAr02, had no effect on or enhanced bacterial growth. The <0.2 microm fraction of CsAg02 and CsAg02 heated to 200 or 550 degrees C retained bactericidal activity, whereas cation-exchanged CsAg02 and CsAg02 heated to 900 degrees C no longer killed E. coli.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that specific mineral products have intrinsic, heat-stable antibacterial properties, which could provide an inexpensive treatment against numerous human bacterial infections.

Preparation, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of quaternized chitosan/organic montmorillonite nanocomposites

Quaternized chitosan/layered silicate nanocomposite was prepared by simple solution-mixing in aqueous media. Montmorillonite (MMT) modified with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide was used as an organically modified layered silicate. XRD and TEM analyses respectively confirmed that silicate layers of MMT were intercalated and nicely distributed in quaternized chitosan matrix in despite of the high content of MMT (25-50 wt %). The interactions between the quaternized chitosan macromolecules and MMT in aqueous media were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, and zeta-potential measurements. Antimicrobial studies showed that the nanocomposites could strongly inhibit the growth of a wide variety of microorganisms, including Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi; more importantly, they exhibited good antimicrobial capacity in whichever medium, in weak acid, water, or weak base. As the amount of MMT increased, the nanocomposites had better inhibitory effect on microorganisms, especially Gram-positive bacteria. The lowest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) value of the nanocomposites against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were less than 0.00313% (w/v) under all the conditions. The adsorption action of MMT on bacteria was simply discussed via SEM images. The results revealed that the strong antimicrobial of the nanocomposites may be attributed to the fine dispersion and the interaction between quaternized chitosan and MMT.

A novel organoclay with antibacterial activity prepared from montmorillonite and Chlorhexidini Acetas

A series of novel organoclays with antibacterial activity were synthesized using Ca-montmorillonite and Chlorhexidini Acetas (CA) by ion-exchange. The resultant organoclays were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HRTG) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Their antibacterial activity was assayed by so-called halo method. In the organoclays prepared at low CA concentration, CA ions within the clay interlayer adopt a lateral monolayer while a 'kink' state or a special state with partial overlapping of the intercalated CA in the organoclays prepared at 1.0-4.0 CEC. HRTG analysis demonstrates that CA located outside the clay interlayer exists in all synthesized organoclays, resulting from the complex molecular configuration of CA. The dramatic decrease of the surface adsorbed water and interlayer water is caused by the surface property transformation and the replacement of hydrated cations by cationic surfactant. These observations are supported by the results of FTIR. Antibacterial activity test against E. coli demonstrates that the antibacterial activity of the resultant organoclays strongly depends on the content of CA. Meanwhile, the resultant organoclay shows a long-term antibacterial activity that can last for at least one year. These novel organoclays are of potential use in synthesis of organoclay-based materials with antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial effect of Cu2+-exchanged montmorillonite on Aeromonas hydrophila and discussion on its mechanism

Montmorillonite (MMT) and its Cu2+-exchanged montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) were used to study the antibacterial activity on Aeromonas hydrophila. The results indicated that MMT had no antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Cu-MMT on A. hydrophila are found to be 150 and 600 mg/L, respectively. The continuance of the antibacterial activity of Cu-MMT was much longer than copper sulfate. In order to reveal the mechanism of the antibacterial activity of Cu-MMT, the Cu release from Cu-MMT in tryptic soy broth (TSB) was investigated. In the first 2 h, Cu concentration in the supernatant reaches saturated value, about 1.22-2.27% of the overall Cu in Cu-MMT suspended in the medium. The washed Cu-MMT in TSB for 24 h retained their full antibacterial activity; whereas, the supernatants from the washed pellets showed very little antibacterial activity. These findings suggested that the antibacterial activity of Cu-MMT was mainly localized on the clay surface, and not due to the release of Cu2+ into solution. The excessive positive charge of Cu-MMT would make Cu-MMT attract A. hydrophila with negatively charged cellular wall. In this case, the copper cation would act directly on the bacteria adsorbed on the surface of Cu-MMT, instead of into the medium. The mechanism for the antibacterial activity of Cu-MMT may involve the enhanced affinity of Cu-MMT for A. hydrophila and the antibacterial activity of Cu2+.

Effects of copper-bearing montmorillonite on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal microflora and morphology of male broilers

Avian commercial male broiler chicks (n = 240), 1 d of age, were used to investigate the effects of copper-bearing montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal microflora and morphology. The chicks were allocated to 4 treatments, each of which had 5 pens of 12 chicks per pen. The 4 treatments were basal diet only (control group), basal diet + 1.5 g/kg montmorillonite (MMT), basal diet + 36.75 mg/kg Cu, in the form of CuSO4, and basal diet + 1.5 g/kg Cu-MMT. The results showed that supplementation with Cu-MMT significantly improved growth performance compared with the control diet, and that chicks fed with Cu-MMT had higher average daily gain (ADG) than those fed with MMT or CuSO4. Supplementation with Cu-MMT significantly reduced the total viable counts of Escherichia coli and Clostridium in the small intestine and cecum. Supplementation with MMT or CuSO4 had no influence on intestinal microflora. Chicks fed with Cu-MMT had lower viable counts of E. coli in cecal contents than those fed with MMT or CuSO4. The addition of either MMT or Cu-MMT to the diet improved the activities of total protease, amylase, and lipase in the small intestinal contents but had no effect on those in the pancreas. Morphological measurements of the small intestinal mucosa of chicks indicated that dietary addition of MMT or Cu-MMT improved intestinal mucosal morphology.

Copper(II) adsorption on Ca-rectorite, and effect of static magnetic field on the adsorption

Rectorite is a kind of rare clay mineral. In this work, the sorption of Cu(II) on Ca-rectorite and the effects of static magnetic fields on the sorption have been studied. The results from this study indicated that (1) apparent equilibrium for the sorption of copper onto Ca-rectorite is attained within the first hour; (2) magnetic treatment enhances the zeta potential of Ca-rectorite suspensions in the absence of Cu and reduces that of the suspension in the presence of Cu; (3) magnetic treatment promotes the sorption of Cu onto Ca-rectorite, especially at low Cu concentrations; (4) the effects of static magnetic fields decrease the pH of Ca-rectorite suspensions whether they contain copper or not. The effect mechanisms of static magnetic field on the sorption of Cu onto Ca-rectorite were discussed.

Arsenic adsorption onto pillared clays and iron oxides

Arsenic adsorption was carried out on simple materials such as goethite and amorphous iron hydroxide, and more complex matrices such as clay pillared with titanium(IV), iron(III), and aluminum(III). These matrices were synthesized from a bentonite whose montmorillonitic fraction was pillared according to optimized parameters. These sorbents were characterized by various methods: XRD, FTIR, BET, DTA/TGA, surface acidity, and zetametry. Elimination of arsenite and arsenate as a function of pH was studied. Arsenate elimination was favored at acidic pH, whereas optimal arsenite elimination was obtained at 4<pH<9. For pH values above 10, the pillared clays were damaged and elimination decreased. Equilibrium time and adsorption isotherms were also determined for arsenite and arsenate at each matrix auto-equilibrium pH. Amorphous iron hydroxide had the highest adsorption capacities both towards arsenate and arsenite. Adsorption capacities of goethite and iron- and titanium-pillared clays toward arsenate were similar, but those toward arsenite were different. Desorption experiments from the various matrices were carried out. Iron- and titanium-pillared clays showed a desorption capacity above 95% and around 40% respectively, but no desorption rate could be obtained for iron (hydr)oxides as they were damaged during the process.