Antibacterial and Algicidal Effects of Porous Carbon Cuboid Nanoparticles

Abstract

Here, we have studied the antibacterial effects of a newly synthesized carbon structure with excellent properties, named porous carbon cuboid (PCC) nanoparticles, upon Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Corynebacterium glutamicum bacterial cells and its algicidal effects upon Chlamydomonas reinhardtii microalgal cells. More specifically, the antibacterial properties of PCCs enriched with acid treatment (PCC-ox) or metal encapsulation (PCC-Cu and PCC-Ag) were investigated under various concentrations of PCCs and their interaction times. Additionally, the impact of PCCs upon microalgal growth was estimated by measuring the total chlorophyll level during their cultivation. As a result, E. coli and C. glutamicum were shown to be substantially inhibited by PCCs, depending on their special characteristics, dose, and bacterial strain. Moreover, it has been proven that the antibacterial effect is time-dependent. Growth of C. reinhardtii was inhibited by PCCs in a material-dependent manner, whereas PCC-Ag had the highest registered effect. These results suggest that PCCs could be used as an effective antibacterial material, although consideration should be given to issues involving the disposal of PCCs after usage, given their level of toxic effect on the environment.