Antibacterial Activity of Arginine- and Decyl-Functionalized Janus Silica Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanotechnology offers alternative approaches for combating bacterial resistance against conventional antibiotics via different antibacterial mechanisms that are less likely to acquire resistance. A one-side-functionalized Janus nanoparticle offers a unique binding interaction with the cell membrane that attracts attention as an alternative antibacterial material. In this study, we show that Janus nanoparticles prepared via one-side functionalization with non-antibiotic chemicals/biochemicals can offer significant antibacterial activity. Specifically, three different colloidal Janus nanoparticles of 50−70 nm sizes are designed that are functionalized with decyls/arginines at one side or decyls at one side and arginines at the other side, and all of them showed strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We found that antibacterial activity originates due to the strong interaction with bacterial membranes, followed by membrane disruption. The resultant antibacterial performance is highly sensitive to their colloidal property, particularly because poor colloidal property is inherently associated with Janus structures, but dispersibility is required for efficient interaction with the bacterial membrane. The presented results suggest that Janus nanoparticles can be designed using conventional biochemicals/chemicals with poor antibacterial properties and can be used for broad-spectrum antibacterial applications.