This paper presents the characteristics of gentamicin-loaded into cetyl trimethyl ammonium intercalated montmorillonite (GtM/CTMA/Mt) as a hybrid composite for a slow-released antibacterial delivery systems. The work describes the successful immobilization of gentamicin into the interlayers of surfactant-modified montmorillonite. Physicochemical characterization of the material is carried out by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The kinetics of the gentamicin release is investigated by in vitro study and analyzed based on UV–Vis spectrometry. In addition, antibacterial study is performed towards Klebsiella pneumoniae Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The results show that the gentamicin loading into CTMA/ Mt increases the effectiveness of the antibacterial activity, as shown by the higher inhibition zone for all tested bacteria, compared to gentamicin as a positive control. The kinetics study suggests that the gentamicin release obeys the modified Korsmeyer–Peppas model. The physicochemical study and activity test demonstrate the feasibility of the GtM/CTMA/Mt for practical applications.

This study investigated the synergistic effects of a combination of cephalexin and gentamicin (CCG) against Streptococcus spp. isolated from bovine milk. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index were determined for 12 bacteria isolated from 12 bovine farms in Gyeongnam province. The MIC ranges of cephalexin, gentamicin and CCG were 0.25-0.5, 0.5-2.0 and 0.06-0.125 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, the FIC index range of CCG against the isolates was 0.32-0.34, showing a synergistic effect in the checkboard assay. In conclusion, CCG has a high antibacterial activity against Streptococcus isolates and may be utilized in the treatment of bovine streptococcal mastitis.