Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are versatile materials with wide-ranging uses in catalysis, drug delivery, and antimicrobial systems due to their tunable layered structure. In this study, selenium (Se)-modified Al/Zn LDHs were developed to enhance bioactivity by utilizing Se’s strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The LDHs were further functionalized with polycarbazole (PCz) at 0.2–1 wt% and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental mapping confirming successful incorporation of Se and PCz. Electrochemical studies showed that the polymer-coated LDH catalyst enables selective in situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and sustained reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under physiological and mildly alkaline conditions. This tunable ROS activity indicates controllable antibacterial potential. Zone inhibition tests demonstrated that PCz-modified Se–LDH nanohybrids exhibited stronger antibacterial effects against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli than unmodified samples, highlighting their promise as advanced, tunable antimicrobial materials for biomedical and environmental applications.
Taylor et al. (Thu,) studied this question.