Study of fungicidal and antibacterial effect of the Cu(II)-complexes of thiophene oligomers synthesized in ZSM-5 zeolite channels

The influence of the Cu(II)-complexes of thiophene oligomers synthesized by oxidative polymerization of thiophene with Cu2+ ions in ZSM-5 zeolite channels on fungicidal and antimicrobial properties was studied. It has been found that the heterogeneous system culture medium-modified zeolite increases sporulation of the tested fungus (Aspergillus niger) and concurrently kills yeast (Candida albicans). These effects are attributed to a slow release of Cu2+ ions and thiophene oligomers into the culture medium. As for the tested bacteria (G+ Staphylococcus aureus, G−Escherichia coli), the percentage of the killed cells increases due to light activation of the system. The light effect is assigned to photogeneration of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), mainly √OH radicals, which were registered in the water solution by EPR spectroscopy. It has been confirmed that the thiophene oligomers present in the Cu–ZSM-5 microstructure slow down the release of copper into the medium.