Synthesis of Self-Assembled Spermidine-Carbon Quantum Dots Effective against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

This study reports a two‐step method to synthesize spermidine‐capped fluorescent carbon quantum dots (Spd–CQDs) and their potential application as an antibacterial agent. Fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are synthesized by pyrolysis of ammonium citrate in the solid state and then modified with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced healthcare materials 2016-10, Vol.5 (19), p.2545-2554
Main Authors: Li, Yu-Jia, Harroun, Scott G., Su, Yu-Chia, Huang, Chun-Fang, Unnikrishnan, Binesh, Lin, Han-Jia, Lin, Chia-Hua, Huang, Chih-Ching
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
A549 Cells
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
Antiinfectives and antibacterials
antimicrobial drugs
Bacteria
Carbon
Carbon - chemistry
carbon quantum dots
Citric Acid - chemistry
Dressing
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - drug effects
Escherichia coli
Fluorescence
HEK293 Cells
HeLa Cells
Humans
In vitro testing
Male
MCF-7 Cells
Microbial Sensitivity Tests - methods
multidrug resistant bacteria
Multidrug resistant organisms
polyamines
Polyamines - chemistry
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Quantum dots
Quantum Dots - chemistry
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - chemistry
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spermidine - chemistry
Spermidine - pharmacology
Staphylococcus aureus
Synthesis
wound healing
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Summary:This study reports a two‐step method to synthesize spermidine‐capped fluorescent carbon quantum dots (Spd–CQDs) and their potential application as an antibacterial agent. Fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are synthesized by pyrolysis of ammonium citrate in the solid state and then modified with spermidine by a simple heating treatment without a coupling agent. Spermidine, a naturally occurring polyamine, binds with DNA, lipids, and proteins involved in many important processes within organisms such as DNA stability, and cell growth, proliferation, and death. The antimicrobial activity of the as‐synthesized Spd–CQDs (size ≈4.6 nm) has been tested against non‐multidrug‐resistant E. coli, S. aureus, B. subtilis, and P. aeruginosa bacteria and also multidrug‐resistant bacteria, methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The minimal inhibitory concentration value of Spd–CQDs is much lower (>25 000‐fold) than that of spermidine, indicating their promising antibacterial characteristics. The mechanism of antibacterial activity is investigated, and the results indicate that Spd–CQDs cause significant damage to the bacterial membrane. In vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis analyses reveal the high biocompatibility of Spd–CQDs. To demonstrate its practical application, in vitro MRSA‐infected wound healing studies in rats have been conducted, which show faster healing, better epithelialization, and formation of collagen fibers when Spd–CQDs are used as a dressing material. Spermidine, a biogenic polyamine, when self‐assembled on carbon quantum dots (CQDs), exhibits >25 000‐fold improvement in its antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant bacteria. Antibacterial wound‐healing assays reveal that the spermidine‐modified CQDs are an effective dressing nanomaterial for treatment of bacterial infections.
ISSN:2192-2640
2192-2659
DOI:10.1002/adhm.201600297