Antibacterial Properties of Graphene Oxide–Copper Oxide Nanoparticle Nanocomposites

Abstract

The resistance of pathogenic bacteria toward traditional biocidal treatment methods is a growing concern in various settings, including that of water treatment and in the medical industry. As such, advanced antibacterial technologies are needed to prevent infections, against which current antibiotics are failing. This study introduces copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) doped in graphene oxide (GO) as a potential pathogenic bacterial treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the GO–CuONP hybridized material against pathogenic Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 (E. coli) and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 (S. typhimurium). GO was synthesized using a modified Hummer’s method and doped with 40% w/w CuONPs using a series of thermal chemical reactions. The resulting hybrids were then characterized using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and spectroscopic studies. These studies revealed that the hybrid material was considerably altered by the inclusion of CuONPs. The live and dead bacteria attached to the GO–CuONP material were detected using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The antibacterial activity assay of the GO–CuONP material was conducted using a standard plate count method. Importantly, the GO–CuONP nanocomposite was determined to be an effective antibacterial nanomaterial, significantly inhibiting the growth of both E. coli and S. typhimurium bacteria compared to that observed on the pristine GO material. This study suggests that GO–CuONP composites are a promising high-efficacy antibacterial nanomaterial.

Antibacterial Action of Nanoparticle Loaded Nanocomposites Based on Graphene and Its Derivatives: A Mini-Review

“…A few studies have also been devoted to investigating the antibacterial action of Cu [69], Cu 2 O [70,71] or CuO [72] nanoparticles bound to GO or rGO. At high concentrations, these nanomaterials are toxic to the majority of microorganisms since the redox properties of Cu provoke cellular damage including protein and lipid oxidation.…”

“…Nanocomposites of CuO nanoparticles and GO have also been developed [72], which were found to be effective antibacterial nanomaterials, strongly inhibiting the proliferation of both E. coli and S. typhimurium bacteria compared to GO or CuO alone. The surface morphology of the nanocomposite significantly differed from that of the pure components (Figure 8), as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and this could account for the improved bactericide action.…”

“…Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectral map for H) GO and I) GO-CuO nanocomposite. Reprinted from Ref [72],. with permission from the American Chemical Society, 2019.…”

Effect of ionic liquid on graphene decorated with copper nanostructure dispersion towards silicon/graphene/copper composites with enhanced thermal, electrical and antimicrobial properties

“…It is reported that the ionic liquid increases the graphene dispersion; therefore, the G–Cu NPs are better dispersed into the silicon sample allowing a better antimicrobial response. It is reported that the antimicrobial effect of Cu is based on the copper nanoparticles acting on the enzymes of the cell membrane of bacteria affecting their respiratory function [ 49 , 50 ]. Thus, having a better dispersion of the G/Cu particles induced by the ionic liquid, a greater possibility of interaction of the particles with bacteria and this in turn would be reflected in a greater antimicrobial effect [ 42 ].…”

Graphene Oxide Quantum Dot‐Based Functional Nanomaterials for Effective Antimicrobial Applications

“…In the top‐down synthesis of graphene‐based nanomaterials, the starting material is usually some form of bulk graphite and then broken down through physical or chemical processes, where exfoliation ultimately results in the production of small graphitic carbon consisting of a varied number of graphene layers. One such top‐down method is known as the Hummers’ method, [22,23] in which graphite flakes or pitch carbon fiber can be broken down through chemical oxidation using concentrated acids, resulting in the formation of GO. Depending on the degree of oxidation, controlled through reaction temperature, time, and acid concentration, one can obtain GO with sizes varied from several hundred nanometers down to the quantum dot regime of only a few nanometers in diameter [14,24–27] .…”