Development of Hybrid (Organic-Inorganic) Antibacterial Agent

Antimicrobial agents such as antibacterial agents and antibiotics are widely used to inhibit bacterial growth and combat pathogenic bacteria. However, the high release of these agents could create problems which are antimicrobial resistance and environmental pollution. Hence, there is a need to optimize the usage of these agents. One of the alternatives is incorporating these agents onto suitable carrier systems, such as incorporating organic and inorganic antimicrobial agents in an inorganic material, creating hybrid (organic-inorganic) antimicrobial agents. Our study has successfully developed hybrid antimicrobial agents by combining cationic surfactant (organic) and silver ions (inorganic) on zeolite. Zeolite is an aluminosilicate possessing a negative charge with a cation exchange capacity with high surface area to accommodate various molecules and ions. The Ag ions can be initially incorporated inside the zeolite framework, followed by cationic surfactant attachment such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium on the Ag-zeolite. This procedure creates a balanced amount of organic and inorganic antibacterial agents on the zeolite. The cationic surfactant molecules are located at the external sites, whereas the Ag ions are situated at the zeolite framework’s interior areas. In this way, there are two possible antibacterial mechanisms (i) release of the antibacterial ions and compounds onto the media or surrounding, or (ii) adsorption of bacteria on the surface of the hybrid materials by the interaction with surfactant molecules, subsequently the death of the bacteria by the Ag ions. The various potential application of the hybrid antibacterial agents includes active ingredient in anti-biofouling paint, wound healing, coating surgery room and medical devices, and antibacterial products. In summary, the incorporation of organic and inorganic antibacterial agents on the carrier system creates hybrid antibacterial agents that could benefit humans and the environment.