Carbon quantum dots modified Ag2S/CS nanocomposite as effective antibacterial agents

The present study attempted to synthesize carbon quantum dots (CQDs) through Aldol polymerization reaction, wherein acetone was used as the carbon source. A nano composite CQDs/Ag2S/CS was developed by loading as prepared CQDs and Ag2S nanoparticles on a chitosan substrate (CS). An in-situation growth of nanocomposites was adopted to study their antibacterial properties. Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were selected as the model bacteria. The CQDs/Ag2S/CS nanocomposites exhibited excellent inhibition not only against common pathogenic bacteria, but also those well-known drug-resistant bacteria. Moreover, compared to traditional antibiotics, the as prepared nanocomposites in the present work do not likely cause bacterial drug resistance, which make them a potential candidate for a new type of clinically applicable antibiotics.

Automated summary

The study synthesized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) through Aldol polymerization reaction using acetone as the carbon source. A nano composite CQDs/Ag2S/CS was developed with excellent antibacterial properties against both common pathogenic bacteria and drug-resistant strains, showing potential as a new type of clinically applicable antibiotics that may not cause bacterial drug resistance.