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Solar-excited graphene quantum dots for bacterial inactivation via generation of reactive oxygen species
Fangdong Zhao1, Wei Gu1, Jian Zhou1
1a State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection , Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University , Suzhou , China.
Abstract:
Nanoscale photocatalysts have attracted abundant research attention in the solar-activated disinfection. In this work, we find that solar irradiation significantly improves the antimicrobial activity of graphene quantum dots (GQDs), accompanied by severe oxidative stress and membrane damage. By using electron spin resonance (ESR) technique, we confirm that different reactive oxygen species (ROS), including singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH), and superoxide anion (O2•-) were generated by GQDs upon irradiation with simulated sunlight. Additionally, these generated ROS will further facilitate lipid peroxidation of cell membrane and suppress bacterial antioxidant systems, enhancing the phototoxicity of GQDs. These findings will bring major advancements of GQDs in applications of solar-driven bacterial disinfection.
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