Coordination chemistry for antibacterial materials: a monolayer of a Cu2+ 2,2′-bipyridine complex grafted on a glass surface

Abstract

A propyltrimethoxysilane-modified 2,2′-bipyridine ligand is synthesized and its acetonitrile solutions are used to prepare monolayers of the molecule on glass surfaces. Absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrate that the modified glass surfaces bind Cu²⁺ with a 1 : 1 ratio with respect to the 2,2′-bipyridine moieties under the chosen preparative conditions, producing materials bearing 0.016 μg cm⁻² of copper. Although in trace amounts, the bound Cu²⁺ cations exert a significant microbicidal effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.