Genipin cross-linked carbon dots for antimicrobial, bioimaging and bacterial discrimination

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces B, Biointerfaces, 2020-06, Vol.190, p.110930, Article 110930
• Main Authors: Chu, Xiaohong, Wu, Fan, Sun, Baohong, Zhang, Ming, Song, Saijie, Zhang, Pan, Wang, Yuli, Zhang, Qicheng, Zhou, Ninglin, Shen, Jian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial activity; Bacterial discrimination; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Bioimaging; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Carbon - chemistry; Carbon - pharmacology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cross-Linking Reagents - chemistry; Cross-Linking Reagents - pharmacology; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Female; Humans; Iridoids - chemistry; Iridoids - pharmacology; Molecular Structure; Multifunctional carbon dots; Optical Imaging; Particle Size; Quantum Dots - chemistry; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2020.110930

Schematic illustration of the formation process and the application of N-CDs and N-CDs-GP. [Display omitted] •The exceptional bioimaging capability depends on long fluorescence emission wavelength of N-CDs-GP.•N-CDs-GP selectively attach to Gram-positive bacteria to achieve bacterial differentiation.•N-CDs-GP showed good antibacterial property and could accelerate wound repair.•N-CDs-GP caused negligible toxicity to the main rat organs. Multifunctional carbon dots (CDs) present enormous potential in numerous applications and have attracted widespread attention for various applications in the biomedical field. Bacterial infection is a common health issue; the development of antibacterial materials with low toxicity and good biocompatibility is becoming more important. In this work, we synthesized a new type of nitrogen co-doped carbon dots-genipin covalent conjugate (N-CDs-GP) via hydrothermal methods. The microstructure and chemical composition of the N-CDs-GP were characterized. The biocompatibility, stability, antibacterial activity, and fluorescence performance of the N-CDs-GP were assessed. The results revealed that N-CDs-GP possessed high biocompatibility, high light stability, and broad antibacterial activity. Additionally, selective Gram-positive bacterial imaging by N-CDs-GP provided a more rapid method of bacterial detection. The N-CDs-GP have the potential to be applied as bioimaging and antibacterial agents and for bacterial discrimination.