Self-assembling biomolecules provide attractive templates for the preparation of metallic nanostructures. However, the intuitive transfer of the “outer shape” of the assembled macromolecules to the final metallic particle depends on the intermolecular forces among the biomolecules which compete with interactions between template molecules and the metal during metallization. The shape of the bio-template may thus be more dynamic than generally assumed. Here, we have studied the metallization of phospholipid nanodiscs which are discoidal particles of ~10 nm diameter containing a lipid bilayer ~5 nm thick. Using negatively charged lipids, electrostatic adsorption of amine-coated Au nanoparticles was achieved and followed by electroless gold deposition. Whereas Au nanoparticle adsorption preserves the shape of the bio-template, metallization proceeds via invasion of Au into the hydrophobic core of the nanodisc. Thereby, the lipidic phase induces a lateral growth that increases the diameter but not the original thickness of the template. Infrared spectroscopy reveals lipid expansion and suggests the existence of internal gaps in the metallized nanodiscs, which is confirmed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering from the encapsulated lipids. Interference of metallic growth with non-covalent interactions can thus become itself a shape-determining factor in the metallization of particularly soft and structurally anisotropic biomaterials.
The electrospray ionization (ESI) method was used for deposition of thin films of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) onto ZSM-5, Cu/ZSM-5 and Ag-Cu/ZSM-5 zeolites. This method allowed the formation of uniform polymer films of controlled thickness on conductive substrates.
The zeolites were prepared home-made. The effect of incorporation of Cu (5 wt.%) and Ag-Cu (1+4 wt.%) onto ZSM-5 on its particle size, unit cell parameters and crystallinity was investigated.
The deposited PAA layer acts as a common dispersing agent with its ionic COOH (COO-) groups. The antibacterial activity towards the bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus pneumonia (S. Pneumonia), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) as Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, respectively, and Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), Candida albicans (C. albicans) as Fungi was evaluated. The chemical and physical modifications of ZSM-5, Cu/ZSM-5 and Ag-Cu/ZSM-5 surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
The Cu/ZSM-5 and Ag-Cu/ZSM-5 nanocomposites coated with a 10 nm thick PAA layer exhibit significant antibacterial activity. The carboxyl (¬-COOH) or the corresponding carboxylate groups (¬-COO-) interact with Cu2+ and Ag+ ions by formation of ionic bonds (¬-COO-Ag+ or 2 ¬-COO->Cu2+). Moreover, short exposure to light and temperature has reduced Cu2+ and Ag+ to Cu0 and Ag0.