Molecularly imprinted microparticles (microMIPs) embedded with reduced graphene oxide for capture and destruction of...

In this article for the first time, we have reported, a facile way for the creation of E.coli impressions in the polymer for selective capture and to destroy E. coli in drinking water. This microporous imprinted polymer has shown the existence of micrometer size rod shape cavities with the population of 2.45 × 10² ± 60 imprints per cm². Adsorption capacity of the polymer for E.coli was 10³ CFU mg^-1. This microporous imprinted polymer captured 99% of the bacteria within 30 min at initial concentration of 10⁹ CFU mL^-1. The non-imprinted polymer prepared without the bacteria imprinting reported only 40% of the bacteria removal even after 60 min. The reduced graphene oxide was embedded in the microporous imprinted polymer and it reported minimum inhibitory concentration at 7.4 mg L^-1. Within 10 min, reduced graphene oxide completely kills the E.coli while microporous imprinted polymer was embedded with the reduced graphene oxide takes about 13 min to disinfect the water. The reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles were near the imprinted cavity to generate localized temperature between 180 and 210 °C to kill the bacterial cells trapped inside the imprinted cavities of the polymer. The thermal atomic force microscope with the specialized heated probe tips were used to determine the localized temperature in the polymers. The localized thermal energy would be responsible for the production of superoxides, which were as similar to photolysis reactions, and would be further improving antibacterial activity. The combination of selective capture and destruction of pathogens in a single molecular construct improves disinfection of drinking water.