Carbon-based nanomaterials with higher specific surface area: more expensive but more effective antimicrobials

Titanium dental implants are prone to infections by pathogenic bacteria, leading to the formation of biofilm and development of peri-implantitis. Due to their excellent biocompatibility, peroxidase-like activity, and photothermal capabilities, carbon-based nanozymes emerge as a low-risk alternative to traditional antibiotics to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections. However, a crucial question regarding carbon-based nanomaterials with antibacterial properties lies in how to optimize the process parameters to maximize their bactericidal efficacy while minimizing adverse effects such as energy consumption, cytotoxicity, and damage to titanium implants. We have synthesized five groups of carbon-based nanozymes with distinct microstructures through pyrolysis and comprehensively evaluated their performance in five key aspects: energy consumption, photothermal performance, peroxidase-like activity, environmental sensitivity, and cytotoxicity. The results of our experiments provide valuable references for the rational design of carbon-based nanozymes for the treatment of peri-implantitis.