Self-functionalization of l-Cysteine on Ag nanoparticle decorated SiO2 nanospheres

Strong interactions existing amongst thiol group and noble-metal structures and their covalent binding as thiolates are regarded as one of the prominent prototypical systems for self-assembled nanostructures. In this regard, we report on the fabrication of l-Cysteine functionalized silica/silver (SiO2/Ag) heterostructures and their physicochemical characterization studies. The structural analysis on the uniform and dense Ag structures (25 nm) bound on the surface of SiO2 nanospheres was studied using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopic tools. The conjugation of l-Cysteine was verified using Fourier-transform infrared analysis. The role of these functionalized nanostructures for antibacterial applications was also studied against human pathogens.