Bactericidal evaluation of N-halamine-functionalized silica nanoparticles based on barbituric acid

Novel N-halamine-functionalized silica nanoparticles (NHFS NPs) were facilely fabricated from the 5-allylbarbituric acid (ABBA) by a seeded copolymerization using colloidal silica nanoparticles as support and ABBA-based N-halamine copolymers as shell. The NHFS NPs with spherical morphology and legible core–shell structure have the average diameter of 538.5 nm and the average shell thickness of 19.8 nm. The NHFS NPs possessed improved antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria compared with their bulk powder counterparts. The structural effect of N-halamine on bactericidal activity was clarified through the comparison between barbituric acid-based NHFS NPs and hydantoin-structural NHFS NPs. Effects of colloidal silica support and comonomer methyl methacrylate on particles morphology and the corresponding antimicrobial activity were comparatively investigated as well. Antibacterial tests revealed that N-halamine nanomaterials originated from barbituric acid derivative displayed powerful antibacterial performance and long-term stability.