Exploration of the Graphene Quantum Dots-Blue Light Combination: A Promising Treatment against Bacterial Infection.

Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101092791 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1422-0067 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14220067 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Mol Sci Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Basel, Switzerland : MDPI, [2000-

Anti-Bacterial Agents*/pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents*/chemistry ; Blue Light* ; Escherichia coli*/drug effects ; Graphite*/chemistry ; Graphite*/pharmacology ; Quantum Dots*/chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species*/metabolism; Humans ; Caco-2 Cells ; Photochemotherapy/methods

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) have shown the potential for antimicrobial photodynamic treatment, due to their particular physicochemical properties. Here, we investigated the activity of three differently functionalized GQDs-Blue Luminescent GQDs (L-GQDs), Aminated GQDs (NH 2 -GQDs), and Carboxylated GQDs (COOH-GQDs)-against E. coli . GQDs were administrated to bacterial suspensions that were treated with blue light. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by measuring colony forming units (CFUs) and metabolic activities, as well as reactive oxygen species stimulation (ROS). GQD cytotoxicity was then assessed on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2), before setting in an in vitro infection model. Each GQD exhibits antibacterial activity inducing ROS and impairing bacterial metabolism without significantly affecting cell morphology. GQD activity was dependent on time of exposure to blue light. Finally, GQDs were able to reduce E. coli burden in infected Caco-2 cells, acting not only in the extracellular milieu but perturbating the eukaryotic cell membrane, enhancing antibiotic internalization. Our findings demonstrate that GQDs combined with blue light stimulation, due to photodynamic properties, have a promising antibacterial activity against E. coli . Nevertheless, we explored their action mechanism and toxicity on epithelial cells, fixing and standardizing these infection models.

Biomaterials. 2017 Mar;120:185-194. (PMID: 28063357)
Materials (Basel). 2020 Sep 10;13(18):. (PMID: 32927673)
Nanoscale Adv. 2020 Jan 20;2(3):1074-1083. (PMID: 36133054)
Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021 Dec 16;11(12):. (PMID: 34947768)
Nanoscale Res Lett. 2014 Mar 06;9(1):108. (PMID: 24597852)
Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 28;11(1):24473. (PMID: 34963696)
Laser Ther. 2018 Dec 31;27(4):293-302. (PMID: 31182904)
J Dent Sci. 2023 Oct;18(4):1453-1466. (PMID: 37799910)
Biotechnol J. 2021 Feb;16(2):e1900422. (PMID: 32618417)
Nanomaterials (Basel). 2020 Jul 22;10(8):. (PMID: 32707988)
Antioxid Redox Signal. 2014 Mar 1;20(7):1126-67. (PMID: 23991888)
Adv Healthc Mater. 2024 Mar;13(8):e2302659. (PMID: 38011489)
Biomaterials. 2012 Oct;33(29):7084-92. (PMID: 22795854)
Biomaterials. 2014 May;35(15):4428-35. (PMID: 24612819)
Methods Enzymol. 2018;609:335-354. (PMID: 30244796)
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2014 Oct 1;122:638-644. (PMID: 25129696)
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Jun 23;14(7):. (PMID: 34201530)
Nanoscale Adv. 2019 Jan 16;1(4):1421-1431. (PMID: 36132595)
Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Nov 15;182:111620. (PMID: 31470307)
Mini Rev Med Chem. 2009 Jul;9(8):974-83. (PMID: 19601890)
Int J Biomater. 2024 Jan 23;2024:2626006. (PMID: 38293702)
NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2019 Oct 9;5(1):29. (PMID: 31602310)
Drug Resist Updat. 2017 Nov;33-35:1-22. (PMID: 29145971)
Lasers Surg Med. 2016 Mar;48(3):311-7. (PMID: 26711625)
J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2011 Oct;15(4):323-7. (PMID: 22368354)
ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2017 Apr 10;3(4):619-627. (PMID: 33429629)
Nanomaterials (Basel). 2019 May 13;9(5):. (PMID: 31086043)
Small. 2023 Sep;19(37):e2301177. (PMID: 37144438)
J Surg Res. 2016 Dec;206(2):316-324. (PMID: 27884325)
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 May 25;8:465. (PMID: 32523939)
ACS Nano. 2014 Jun 24;8(6):6202-10. (PMID: 24870970)
Nanoscale. 2023 Sep 21;15(36):14698-14716. (PMID: 37655476)
Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:159157. (PMID: 23555074)
Acta Biomater. 2013 Dec;9(12):9243-57. (PMID: 23958782)
Virulence. 2018 Jan 1;9(1):522-554. (PMID: 28362216)
Adv Healthc Mater. 2018 Jul;7(13):e1701406. (PMID: 29504283)
J Nanobiotechnology. 2021 Oct 26;19(1):340. (PMID: 34702276)
Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Jul 22;9:905606. (PMID: 35935800)
J Nanobiotechnology. 2020 Oct 2;18(1):142. (PMID: 33008457)
Expert Rev Med Devices. 2019 Oct;16(10):863-875. (PMID: 31550943)
Saudi Pharm J. 2019 Sep;27(6):846-858. (PMID: 31516327)
Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 6;14(1):13059. (PMID: 38844490)
iScience. 2021 Jul 23;24(7):102788. (PMID: 34222841)
FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2013 Nov;37(6):955-89. (PMID: 23802986)
Nanoscale. 2024 Feb 15;16(7):3243-3268. (PMID: 38265094)
Chem Commun (Camb). 2012 Apr 18;48(31):3686-99. (PMID: 22410424)
Adv Mater. 2021 Jun;33(22):e1904362. (PMID: 31833101)
Nat Commun. 2014 Aug 08;5:4596. (PMID: 25105845)
Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2013 Oct;13(5):731-62. (PMID: 24060701)
Polymers (Basel). 2022 Feb 05;14(3):. (PMID: 35160606)
J Hazard Mater. 2023 Jan 5;441:129954. (PMID: 36116315)
Front Microbiol. 2024 May 07;15:1395815. (PMID: 38774507)
Cell Microbiol. 2018 Dec;20(12):e12952. (PMID: 30192424)

PE00000007, INF-ACT EU funding within the MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases

Keywords: Graphene Quantum Dots; antimicrobial treatments; blue light

0 (Anti-Bacterial Agents)
7782-42-5 (Graphite)
0 (Reactive Oxygen Species)

Date Created: 20240810 Date Completed: 20240810 Latest Revision: 20240812

20240813

PMC11312127

10.3390/ijms25158033

39125603