Investigations of the Antibacterial Properties of CiprofloxaciniO2

The antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin-encapsulated silica nanoshells synthesized from goldilica core-shell nanoparticles has been investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the material was found using the agar dilution method, and it showed better antibacterial activity compared to free ciprofloxacin in the case of Escherichia coli DH5*a, whereas the same activity was found for Lactococcus lactis MG 1363. Hydrophobicity measurements carried out in an octanol-water mixture suggested that ciprofloxaciniO2 is distributed almost equally in the aqueous and nonaqueous phases. The kinetics of the uptake of ciprofloxaciniO2 was compared with that of free ciprofloxacin. Fluorescence imaging studies carried out using fluorescein isothiocyanateiO2 showed that the nanoshells enter the bacterial cell. The uptake of silica shells has been probed by transmission electron microscopy also.