Antibacterial properties of mesoporous copper-doped silica xerogels

Mesoporous copper-doped silica xerogels (m-SXCu) with antibacterial properties were synthesized by a sol–gel process, and the morphology, structure and composition of m-SXCu were characterized. The results show that m-SXCu5 with a high surface area of 463.1 m2 g−1 have a mesoporous structure with a pore size of about 2 nm. The addition of Cu from 1 to 5 wt% to m-SXCu had a slight effect on the surface area and a not-so-obvious effect on the mesoporous size of m-SXCu. Cu ions can be released from m-SXCu into the simulated body fluid, and the release rate depends significantly on their number. The m-SXCu possessed good antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus, in which the antibacterial rate reached 99% for m-SXCu5 at 1 h while reaching 99% for all m-SXCu at 24 h. The antibacterial rate was improved with the increase of the amount of Cu, indicating that addition of Cu ions to m-SX enhanced its antibacterial activity.