Dense coating of surface mounted CuBTC Metal–Organic Framework nanostructures on silk fibers, prepared by layer-by-layer method under ultrasound irradiation with antibacterial activity

The growth of Cu3(BTC)2 (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate), also known as CuBTC and HKUST-1, Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) nanostructures on silk fibers were achieved by layer-by-layer technique in alternating bath of Cu(OAc)2·2H2O and H3BTC solutions under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of pH, reaction time, ultrasound irradiation and sequential dipping steps in growth of the CuBTC Metal–Organic Framework nanostructures has been studied. These systems depicted a decrease in the size accompanying a decrease in the sequential dipping steps. In addition, dense coating of silk fibers with CuBTC MOF results in decrease the emission intensity of silk fibers. The silk fibers containing CuBTC Metal–Organic Framework exhibited high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The samples were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD analyses indicated that the prepared CuBTC MOF nanostructures on silk fibers were crystalline.

► The growth of CuBTC on silk fibers was achieved by layer-by-layer technique.
► This layer-by-layer technique was accompanied with ultrasound irradiation.
► The effect of pH, reaction time and sequential dipping steps has been studied.
► The samples were characterized with PXRD, IR spectra and SEM.
► The antibacterial activity of this sample was also studied.