Antibacterial and antibiofilm mechanisms of carbon dots: a review

Due to the increasing bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics, developing safe and effective approaches to combat infections caused by bacteria and biofilms has become an urgent clinical problem. Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have received great attention as a promising alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents due to their excellent antimicrobial efficacy and biocompatibility. Although CDs have been widely used in the field of antibacterial applications, their antibacterial and antibiofilm mechanisms have not been systematically discussed. This review provides a systematic overview on the complicated mechanisms of antibacterial and antibiofilm CDs based on recent development.

Automated summary

Due to bacterial resistance, finding safe and effective alternatives to conventional antibiotics is a pressing clinical issue. Carbon dots (CDs) have gained attention for their antimicrobial efficacy and biocompatibility. This review provides a systematic overview on the mechanisms of antibacterial and antibiofilm CDs based on recent development.