51吃瓜

At the Industrial Chemistry Research Laboratory (ICRL), ICESCO Chair of Biomedical Materials and Laboratory of Microbiology at Baku State University, researchers are redefining the frontier between nanoscience and microbiology. Their latest findings suggest that bentonite nanoparticles can form cation bridges with bacterial membranes, offering a new way to outsmart bacterial defense systems. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-025-03846-w)

In our platform, bentonite serves as a drug-adsorbing, slow-release carrier while the paired therapeutics (e.g., levofloxacin, propolis, Ag) provide the antimicrobial action. Within our polypropylene and silver-coated polypropylene meshes, surface analyses and modeling show that bentonite’s negatively charged layers organize bioactive agents into persistent coatings that retain drug, increase roughness/porosity, and enhance diffusion control—properties central to targeted delivery on device surfaces.

Scanning electron microscopy documents these architectures directly: bentonite–levofloxacin forms uniform and densely packed coatings on mesh fibers; propolis contributes film-like layers that improve adhesion and create micro-porous pathways for release; mixed systems display clustered nano clay domains anchored to polymer fibers—features consistent with electrostatic affinity at the interface.

“Instead of fighting bacteria directly with aggressive chemicals, we use nature’s own electrostatic rules to confuse and control them,” explains the research team. “The clay particles act like smart carriers — they approach the membrane, attach, and open selective pathways for antibiotics to act more efficiently.”

The team’s work goes beyond antibacterial coatings. Their broader research aims to design targeted drug delivery and controlled release systems based on natural nanoclays, graphene oxide, and biopolymers such as polyurethane and lignin. These composites combine biocompatibility, mechanical resilience, and sustained release, crucial for medical devices like artificial heart valves and wound healing membranes.

Mechanistically, adsorption–release studies (Langmuir/Freundlich/D-R isotherms) and dose-rationalized coatings support a sustained, surface-localized therapeutic window, while the surface energy and charge environment promote cation-bridge contacts between clay and membrane—an interaction we are now exploiting to position drugs exactly where bacteria are most vulnerable.

This research corresponds with Baku State University’s expanding aim to integrate green chemistry, materials science, and biomedical innovation. Scientists are synthesizing eco-friendly materials by integrating local resources, such as bentonite, with modern nanotechnology to address global health issues, including antimicrobial resistance. 
The research at Baku State University illustrates the transformation of natural clay into nanoscale precision materials, showcasing their ability to execute remarkable biological functions, thereby merging the realms of nature, chemistry, and medicine.