In situ PET-RAFT polymerization to prepare guanidine-and-carbohydrate modified ZnO nanoparticles†

ZnO–polymer core–shell nanoparticles were successfully prepared using a simple in situ open-to-air PET-RAFT method. The utilization of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) modified ZnO NPs as catalysts for polymerization, along with the grafting of polymers onto the ZnO NPs, offers significant antibacterial properties. The cationic monomer methacrylamide guanidine hydrochloride (MAGH) and the glycomonomer 2-methacrylamido glucopyranose (MAG) were grafted onto the ZnO NPs surface, further enhancing the antibacterial properties by promoting contact with bacteria and specific recognition of E. coli FimH proteins, leading to a significant improvement in the antibacterial ability compared with ZnO NPs. By combining the photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of ZnO NPs, the preparation of a core–shell material with good antibacterial properties was successfully achieved, providing a new strategy for the synthesis of antimicrobial materials.