Synthesis, Characterization and In Vitro Antibacterial Activities of Some Amino Acids Functionalized Nanoclays from Two Local Deposits

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Synthesis, Characterization and In Vitro Antibacterial Activities of Some Amino Acids Functionalized Nanoclays from Two Local Deposits

U.U. Elele¹, Azeh Yakubu^2*, Bala Ezekiel³, Alfred Gimba^4
1,2,4Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria.
³Department of Microbiology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria
*Corresponding author

Abstract- Nanoclay was synthesized by hydration of local clay deposit samples, functionalized and characterized using Raman Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetry, Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) and Particle sizer. Samples were studied for their mineral types and in vitro antibacterial activities. The results proved significant for the classification of the studied clay deposits into natural healing or non-healing clays. Modification of nanoclay conferred antibacterial properties against clinical isolates: Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), Pseudomonas aeroginosa1 (Wound swab), Pseudomonas aeroginosa2 (Ear Swab), Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus Sp.Findings of the study showed that nanoclay was successfully synthesized as revealed by the pore width and volume in the range of 0.03675-5.349 nm and 0.03352-0.0914 cm3/g, with a BET surface area of 432.6 m2/g for the control sample (DNCC). Whereas Arginine/phenylalanine modified nanoclay had 0.03675-5.3490 nm and 0.005877-0.04399 cm3/g each with a BET SA of 102.1 m2/g and 310.3 m2/g respectively. The surface coverage by the two different organo-cations (Arg+, Phe+) were 76.4 and 28.3 % respectively. Study revealed that the deposits were composed of a mixture of clay minerals (quartz, crystallite, tridymite and opal, feldspar, hematite, Kaolinite and Illite). Absorption peak around 1774-1784 cm-1 was due to C=O stretch. The peak around 801-820 cm-1was due to modification. Degradation temperature range was from 450-800 oC. The novelty in this that the Nigerian clay sample from the Dogon-ruwa deposit exhibited no in vitro antibacterial activities. However, modification hugely enhanced the degree of antibacterial activities of the nanoclay. While Kaffin-koro nanoclay exhibited in vitro antibacterial activities and these were enhanced due to modification with amino acids. The study demonstrates that modification with appropriate organic cations could increase the antibacterial robustness of the studied clay deposits for useful biological applications.

Keyword: Synthesis, Nanoclay, Functionalization, Characterization, Antibacterial, Local deposit

I Introduction

A. Synthesis of Novel Materials

The development of novel materials with the ability to inhibit the growth of bacterial and disable them have been of great interest in recent years due to their potential use in everyday products like paints, kitchenware, school and hospital utensils. Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated a steady increase in infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Caitlin and Shelley, 2013).The trend in increasing antibiotic resistance demonstrates an ongoing need to develop novel therapeutic treatments for bacterial infections. Inorganic antibacterial agents have several advantages over traditionally used organic agents; like chemical stability, thermal resistance, safety to the user, long lasting action period, low-cost, availability and bio-degradability (Magana et al., 2008). Antibacterial inorganic materials are generally based in metallic ions with antibacterial properties

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