BACTERIAL GROWTH INHIBITED BY NITRIC OXIDE RELEASING POROUS SILICON NANOPARTICLES

In this study, the ability of porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) to entrap and deliver nitric oxide (NO) as an effective antibacterial agent is tested against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. NO was entrapped inside pSiNPs functionalized by means of thermal hydrocarbonization (THC) and subsequent reduction of nitrite in the presence of D -glucose. The pSiNPs are able to store large NO payloads without reducing the biocompatibility of the pSiNPs with mammalian cells.