Antibacterial Property of Graphene Quantum Dots (Both Source Material and Bacterial Shape Matter)

Abstract

Whereas diverse graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with basal planes similar to those of graphene oxide sheets (i.e., GO-GQDs) lack antibacterial property, that prepared by rupturing C60 cage (i.e., C60-GQD) effectively kills Staphylococcus aureus, including its antibiotic-tolerant persisters, but not Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The observed activity may correlate with a GQD's ability to disrupt bacterial cell envelop. Surface-Gaussian-curvature match between a GQD and a target bacterium may play critical role in the association of the GQD with bacterial cell surface, the initial step for cell envelope disruption, suggesting the importance of both GQDs' source materials and bacterial shape.

Graphene Materials in Antimicrobial Nanomedicine: Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…Along these lines, Akhavan and Ghaderi studied both the Gram-negative and -positive species in a pioneering work. [60] Interestingly, GQDs produced through the chemical rupture of C 60 cages exhibited antibacterial activity selectively against different S. aureus strains. Since the Gram-positive species have much thicker peptidoglycan layers compared to the Gram-negative ones, Akhavan and Ghaderi attributed their observation to the additional protection provided by the outer membrane structures found in Gram-negative cells.…”

“…[92] Further, using AgNP-GQD hybrids for both the H 2 O 2 decomposition and the NIR-irradiated hyperthermia, they have achieved much more efficient bacterial inactivation. [60,[95][96][97] Moreover, we anticipate that the way GMs, in general, are combined with the bandage substrates can cause a notable change in end performance of antibacterial GM-textile composites. Particularly, we envision that the optimization of GQDs' properties may speed up the development of GQD-based antimicrobial wound bandages.…”

“…For example, Veerapandian et al [133] and Hui et al [60] (for GQDs) compared the GO susceptibility of four species in their studies. This can be understood in two ways.…”

“…This can be understood in two ways. We have demonstrated the role of growth phases, [61] and Hui et al [60] tested the susceptibility of antibiotic-tolerant persister cells prepared via a dedicated protocol. Only a few studies provided useful insights in this regard.…”

The Antibacterial Applications of Graphene and Its Derivatives

“…Researchers demonstrated that, GQDs prepared by rupturing C 60 (C 60 ‐GQDs) killed more S. aureus than GQDs prepared from GO nanosheets (GO‐GQDs). GQDs seem to disrupt the envelopment of (and finally kill) cocci more readily than bacilli such as B. subtilis , E. coli , and P. aeruginosa …”