Guanidinium-Functionalized Carbon Dots: An Efficient Antibacterial Agent against Multidrug-Resistant ESKAPE Pathogens
Fangli He1, Xi Liu1, Sihui Yang2
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Nuclear Radiation DNA Damage and Repair, School of Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 19, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed novel guanidinium-functionalized carbon dots (GCDs) from onion powder. These GCDs show potent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESKAPE pathogens and promote wound healing without toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, especially ESKAPE pathogens, present a significant clinical challenge due to their resistance to antibiotics.
- The development of new antibacterial agents effective against these critical pathogens remains a bottleneck in infectious disease treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first example of antibacterial carbon dots targeting ESKAPE pathogens.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of guanidinium-functionalized carbon dots (GCDs) as a potential therapeutic agent.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized guanidinium-functionalized carbon dots (GCDs) by combining onion powder-derived carbon dots with poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB).
- Assessed the antibacterial activity of GCDs against various bacteria, including Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and ESKAPE pathogens.
- Investigated the mechanism of antibacterial action, including bacterial cell membrane rupture and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
- Conducted safety assessments for cytotoxicity and potential for drug resistance development.
- Evaluated the efficacy of GCDs in promoting wound healing in a rat model.
Main Results:
- GCDs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, including multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens.
- The antibacterial mechanism involves bacterial cell membrane rupture and increased ROS levels.
- GCDs showed no detectable drug resistance induction or cytotoxic effects.
- Promoted effective wound healing in infected rat models with no adverse reactions.
- Exhibited excellent long-term stability.
Conclusions:
- GCDs are a promising novel antibacterial agent effective against ESKAPE pathogens.
- GCDs offer a safe and stable therapeutic option for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains.
- Potential application of GCDs in clinical settings for infected wound healing.
