Antibacterial Application of Carpathian Clinoptilolite as Cetylpyridinium Carrier

Abstract

A bactericidal and structural study on the "cetylpyridinium chloride-clinoptilolite" associates has been carried out. For the first time, the samples were synthesized using the powdered clinoptilolite from the Sokyrnytsia deposit (Transcarpathian region, Ukraine). Eight "cetylpyridinium chloride-clinoptilolite" associates have been synthesized using different cetylpyridinium chloride concentrations and further characterized by elemental analysis and FTIR techniques. The association of the cetylpyridinium cation with the zeolite anionic matrix has been studied. It was found that the adsorption of the cetylpyridinium cations occurs on the clinoptilolite surface without destroying the anionic zeolite framework. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of the associates was analyzed, and a significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans strains was observed, which is caused by the cetylpyridinium cation presence. Unmodified natural and acid-treated clinoptilolites did not show antibacterial activity; however, these can be effectively used as a matrix carrier for the cetylpyridiniumcation.