Eco-Friendly Intracellular Biosynthesis of CdS Quantum Dots Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effects and DNA Cleavage Activities

Background: Intracellular biosynthesis of Quantum Dots (QDs) based on microorganisms offers a green alternative and eco-friendly for the production of nanocrystals with superior properties. This study focused on the production of intracellular CdS QDs by stimulating the detoxification metabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: For this aim, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 strain was incubated in a solution of 1mM cadmium sulphate (CdSO4) to manipulate the detoxification mechanism. The intracellularly formed Cd-based material was extracted, and its characterization was carried out by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses and absorption-emission spectra. Results: The obtained material showed absorption peaks at 385 nm and a luminescence peak at 411 nm, and the particle sizes were measured in the range 4.63-17.54 nm. It was determined that the material was sphere-shaped, with a cubic crystalline structure, including Cd and S elements. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of CdS QDs against patent eleven bacterial (four Gram-positive and seven Gram-negative) and one fungal strains were investigated by the agar disk diffusion method. It was revealed that the obtained material has antibacterial effects on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. However, cleavage activity of CdS QDs on pBR322 DNA was not detected. Conclusion: As a result, it has been proposed that the stimulation of the detoxification mechanism can be an easy and effective way of producing green and cheap luminescent QDs or nanomaterial.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the intracellular biosynthesis of Quantum Dots (QDs) using Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The material obtained showed absorption peaks at 385 nm and a luminescence peak at 411 nm, with particle sizes ranging from 4.63-17.54 nm. The antibacterial effects of CdS QDs on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were observed.