Polyurethane aerogels doped with modified SiO2 particles: Advanced materials with antibacterial properties for healthcare applications

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, often originating from bacterial biofilms on inanimate surfaces. Novel materials with antibacterial properties are required to address this problem. This study investigates the antibacterial efficacy of polyurethane (PU) aerogels doped with modified SiO₂ particles against clinically relevant Gram-positive bacterial species. The results demonstrate that the doped aerogels significantly reduce bacterial concentrations, achieving reductions of up to 99.997 % for Staphylococcus aureus, 99.999 % for S. epidermidis, and 89.176 % for Enterococcus faecalis compared to the positive control. The antibacterial activity is attributed to the interactions between the modified-SiO₂ particles and the bacterial cell walls, which may lead to membrane destabilization and cell lysis. These findings suggest that PU aerogels doped with modified-SiO₂ particles could effectively reduce HAIs in healthcare settings. Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms and optimize the application of these materials.