An official website of the United States government
Carbon-based functional nanocomposites have emerged as potent antimicrobial agents and can be exploited as a viable option to overcome antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains. In the present study, graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets are prepared by controlled calcination of urea. Spectroscopic measurements show that the nanosheets consist of abundant carbonyl groups and exhibit apparent photocatalytic activity under UV photoirradiation towards the selective production of singlet oxygen. Therefore, the nanosheets can effectively damage the bacterial cell membranes and inhibit the growth of bacterial cells, such as Gram-negative Escherichia coli, as confirmed in photodynamic, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy measurements. The results from this research highlight the unique potential of carbon nitride derivatives as potent antimicrobial agents.
more »
« less
This content will become publicly available on July 21, 2026
Nickel Hydroxide/Carbon Dot Nanocomposites as Effective Antibacterial Agents
Abstract Antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains are an ever‐present hurdle for human health. A route to overcoming this threat is the development of effective antimicrobial agents based on carbon‐supported nanocomposites. In this study, carbon dots (CD) are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal treatment of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and melamine and further functionalized with nickel hydroxide colloids. Whereas CD alone exhibits virtually no antimicrobial activity under photoirradiation at 365 nm againstEscherichia coliin comparison to the blank control, the performance is markedly enhanced with the Ni(OH)2‐CD nanocomposites, with the lag time prolonged from 7 to 15 h and growth rate reduced by ca. 15%. This is ascribed to the Ni(OH)2colloids that facilitate the separation of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs and ensuing production of superoxide radicals, as confirmed by photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements, which induce oxidative stress and damage to the bacterial cell membranes, thereby leading to effective bactericidal activity. Consistent results are obtained in live/dead assays. Results from this work highlight the unique potential of carbon‐based composites in the development of next‐generation antimicrobial agents.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2003685
- PAR ID:
- 10641796
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chemistry – An Asian Journal
- Volume:
- 20
- Issue:
- 15
- ISSN:
- 1861-4728
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract Titanium dioxide is a photocatalyst, known not only for its ability to oxidize organic contaminants, but also for its antimicrobial properties. In this article, significant enhancement of the antimicrobial activity of TiO2(up to 32 times) was demonstrated after its activation by ball milling. The antimicrobial activity was analyzed for one fungal and 13 bacterial ATCC strains using the microdilution method and recording the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. In order to further investigate the correlation between the mechanical activation of TiO2and its antimicrobial activity, the structure, morphology and phase composition of the material were studied by means of Electron Microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption‐desorption measurements. UV‐Vis diffuse reflectance spectra were recorded and the Kubelka‐Munk function was applied to convert reflectance into the equivalent band gap energy (Eg) and, consequently, to investigate changes in theEgvalue. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze the influence of mechanical activation on the Ti 2p and O 1s spectra. The presented results are expected to enable the development of more sustainable and effective advanced TiO2‐based materials with antimicrobial properties that could be used in numerous green technology applications.more » « less
-
Abstract Conventional β‐lactam antibiotics are resisted by bacteria at an increasing rate, prompting studies into the development of alternate antibiotic agents. In this personal account, we summarize recent progress in the design and engineering of graphene oxide quantum dot‐based nanomaterials as potent antimicrobial agents. Specifically, we examine the impacts of chemical reduction on the antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide quantum dots, and enhancement of the bactericidal performance by the formation of nanocomposites with metal oxide nanoparticles, within the context of photodynamic generation of reactive oxygen species. A perspective is also included where the promises and challenges are highlighted in the development of high‐performance antimicrobial agents based on graphene derivatives.more » « less
-
Design and engineering of graphene-based functional nanomaterials for effective antimicrobial applications has been attracting extensive interest. In the present study, graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) were prepared by chemical exfoliation of carbon fibers and exhibited apparent antimicrobial activity. Transmission electron microscopic measurements showed that the lateral length ranged from a few tens to a few hundred nanometers. Upon reduction by sodium borohydride, whereas the UV-vis absorption profile remained largely unchanged, steady-state photoluminescence measurements exhibited a marked blue-shift and increase in intensity of the emission, due to (partial) removal of phenanthroline-like structural defects within the carbon skeletons. Consistent results were obtained in Raman and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. Interestingly, the samples exhibited apparent, but clearly different, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis cells. In the dark and under photoirradiation (400 nm), the as-produced GOQDs exhibited markedly higher cytotoxicity than the chemically reduced counterparts, likely because of (i) effective removal by NaBH 4 reduction of redox-active phenanthroline-like moieties that interacted with the electron-transport chain of the bacterial cells, and (ii) diminished production of hydroxyl radicals that were potent bactericidal agents after chemical reduction as a result of increased conjugation within the carbon skeletons.more » « less
-
Synthesis of new, highly active antibacterial agents has become increasingly important in light of emerging antibiotic resistance. In the present study, ZnO/graphene quantum dot (GQD) nanocomposites were produced by a facile hydrothermal method and characterized by an array of microscopic and spectroscopic measurements, including transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity of the ZnO/GQD nanocomposites was evaluated with Escherichia coli within the context of minimum inhibitory concentration and the reduction of the number of bacterial colonies in a standard plate count method, in comparison to those with ZnO and GQD separately. It was found that the activity was markedly enhanced under UV photoirradiation as compared to that in ambient light. This was ascribed to the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species under UV photoirradiation, with minor contributions from membrane damage, as manifested in electron paramagnetic resonance and fluorescence microscopic measurements. The results highlight the significance of functional nanocomposites based on semiconductor nanoparticles and graphene derivatives in the development of effective bactericidal agents.more » « less
