Inactivation of antibiotic resistant bacteria by nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots through spontaneous generation of intracellular and extracellular reactive oxygen species.

ABSTRACT: The widespread antibiotic resistance has called for alternative antimicrobial agents. Carbon nanomaterials, especially carbon quantum dots (CQDs), may be promising alternatives due to their desirable physicochemical properties and potential antimicrobial activity, but their antimicrobial mechanism remains to be investigated. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were synthesized to inactivate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and treat bacterial keratitis. N-CQDs synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach displayed a uniform particle size of less than 10 nm, featuring a graphitic carbon structure and functional groups including -OH and -NH₂. The N-CQDs demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin-resist

SUBMITTER: Xia W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11754679 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature