Researchers of Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed an antibacterial material based on nanocarbon laced with diazonium salts. The medication actively fights against pathogens. It is more effective and less toxic in comparison with its alternatives, as well as outstands with its low price. The material is a development of the researchers from the TPU Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences and their colleagues from Lille University of Science and Technology (France). Research findings are published in the Materials Science and Engineering: C academic journals (IF:7,328; Q1). It has been reported by journalists of the RIA Novosti federal news agency.
The rapid development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is one of the most common problems of modern medicine. The solid clump of microorganisms with firm membranes leads to biofilm formation consequently reducing the efficiency of antibacterial medications. A promising method of the fight with the biofilms are agents based on nanomaterials capable to inhibit and erode them.
To develop the new material, the researchers applied carbon quantum dots, known as a type of layered graphite nanostructures. In nanomaterials, carbon structures possess a number of advantages in comparison with precious metals, metal-organic frameworks and other alternative developments. As they are much simpler in preparing and safer for a human. An action mechanism of the new material is based on that its positively charged surface destructively affects the bacteria membranes, resulting in biofilm inhibiting. Modification using the diazonium salts enhances the medication’s antimicrobial effect.
“Modifying the structure of diazonium salts, which are a source of organic functional groups being grafted on the surface of сarbon quantum dots, allowed developing a material with a high antibacterial effect. The conducted research has shown that the material can be used not only for fighting against single bacteria of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus but also erodes their biofilms,”
sums up Elizaveta Sviridova, junior research fellow of the TPU Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences.
The project was granted by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.