Electron Transfer Directed Antibacterial Properties of Graphene Oxide on Metals |
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Authors: | Sunita Panda Tapan K Rout Agnish Dev Prusty Pulickel M Ajayan Sasmita Nayak |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India;2. Tata Steel Limited, Jajpur, Odisha, India;3. School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India;4. Department of Materials Science and Nano Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA;5. Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India |
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Abstract: | Nanomaterials such as silver nanoparticles and graphene‐based composites are known to exhibit biocidal activities. However, interactions with surrounding medium or supporting substrates can significantly influence this activity. Here, it is shown that superior antimicrobial properties of natural shellac‐derived graphene oxide (GO) coatings is obtained on metallic films, such as Zn, Ni, Sn, and steel. It is also found that such activities are directly correlated to the electrical conductivity of the GO‐metal systems; the higher the conductivity the better is the antibacterial activity. GO‐metal substrate interactions serve as an efficient electron sink for the bacterial respiratory pathway, where electrons modify oxygen containing functional groups on GO surfaces to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). A concerted effect of nonoxidative electron transfer mechanism and consequent ROS mediated oxidative stress to the bacteria result in an enhanced antimicrobial action of naturally derived GO‐metal films. The lack of germicidal effect in exposed cells for GO supported on electrically nonconductive substrates such as glass corroborates the above hypothesis. The results can lead to new GO coated antibacterial metal surfaces important for environmental and biomedical applications. |
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Keywords: | antibacterial materials graphene oxide coated metals mechanisms |
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