Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica Coated Gold Nanorods Loaded with Methylene Blue and Its Potentials in Antibacterial Applications

• Main Authors: Adrián Fernández-Lodeiro, Jamila Djafari, Javier Fernández-Lodeiro, Maria Paula Duarte, Elisabete Muchagato Mauricio, José Luis Capelo-Martínez, Carlos Lodeiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: mesoporous silica; gold nanorod; methylene blue; antibacterial activity; gold nanoparticles
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/5/1338

In this work, the successful preparation and characterization of gold nanorods (AuNRs) coated with a mesoporous silica shell (AuNRs@Simes) was achieved. Conjugation with methylene blue (MB) as a model drug using ultrasound-stimulated loading has been explored for further application in light-mediated antibacterial studies. Lyophilization of this conjugated nanosystem was analyzed using trehalose (TRH) as a cryogenic protector. The obtained stable dry formulation shows potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative (<i>Escherichia coli</i>) and Gram-positive (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>) bacteria after a simple post-treatment irradiation method with a red laser during a short time period.