Ag-Conjugated graphene quantum dots with blue light-enhanced singlet oxygen generation for ternary-mode highly-efficient antimicrobial therapy
Yunjian Yu, Lin Mei, Yanmei Shi, Xinge Zhang, Kesong Cheng, Fengyi Cao, Liuxue Zhang, Xu Jia, Xiu-Min Li, Zhenlong Xu
Abstract
). The hybrids exhibited much more efficient bactericidal capability against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria compared with GQDs alone, using 450 nm light irradiation. This is likely a consequence of their enhanced PDT, concomitant PTT, and the synergistic function of AgNPs. The antibacterial mechanism of the new-style nanocomposites was found to irreversibly destroy the bacterial membrane structure, leading to the leaking out of the cytoplasmic contents and the death of the bacteria. At low doses, the biocompatible GQD-AgNP hybrids promoted healing in bacteria-infected rat wounds, with negligible adverse impact to the normal tissue, indicating a promising future for combined photodynamic and photothermal antibacterial applications in clinical medicine.