Antibacterial, cytotoxicity and wound healing assessments of amine-functionalised zeolite y

Abstract

The antibacterial activities, cytotoxicity, and wound healing of amine(3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES))-functionalised zeolite Y against normal human fibroblast cells were studied. The characterisation of unmodified and amine-functionalised zeolites Y (Z, ZA 0.04, ZA 0.4, and ZA 0.6) by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis proved that the APTES molecules were grafted onto the zeolite Y surface without distorting its framework structure. All amine-functionalised zeolite Y samples possessed antibacterial activities against several ATCC bacteria that were correlated with the increased amount of APTES on the zeolite Y surface. Conversely, when a higher concentration of APTES was grafted on the zeolite Y, higher cytotoxicity was observed against the fibroblast cells. Although the ZA 0.6 sample (zeolite Y functionalised with 0.6 M of APTES) had higher antibacterial activity, it was cytotoxic to the cells. Therefore, the selection of an antibacterial agent for human treatment purposes must also consider its cytotoxicity effect against human cells to ensure it is biocompatible.