Antimicrobial Efficacy\nof Cubic, Single-Leaf, and\nFlower-like Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks

Zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have been widely\nused in\ndrug delivery and antibacterial applications due to their highly controllable\nstructure and pore size. However, the relationship between the structure\nof ZIFs and their antibacterial efficacy has not been fully elucidated.\nIn this study, three ZIFs with uniform sizes and specific morphologies\nwere synthesized: cubic (Z-8), leaf-like (Z-L), and flower-like (FZ-L).\nFlow cytometry was employed to assess the effects of these materials\non Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli at different concentrations and\nexposure times. Results showed that sharp-edged ZIFs possess enhanced\nantibacterial effects. Specifically, FZ-L exhibited the lowest minimum\ninhibitory concentration of 400 μg/mL and a minimum bactericidal\nconcentration of 20 μg/mL, which can kill bacteria effectively\nand rapidly. Further study on the antibacterial mechanisms showed\nthat these materials do not produce reactive oxygen species (ROS)\nthemselves but induce ROS production in bacteria and accelerate bacterial\ndeath. Biocompatibility studies suggested that ZIFs have minimal toxicity\nto human cells, indicating their potential in biomedical applications.\nThis research provides insights into the antibacterial mechanisms\nof ZIFs, which can support their development for antimicrobial use.