Bio-inspired and biomaterials-based hybrid photocatalysts for environmental detoxification: A review

Synthesis and photocatalytic degradation activities of phosphorus containing ZnO microparticles under visible light irradiation for water treatment applications.

Considering the situation that environmental issues become more serious day by day, research on practical applications of semiconductor photocatalysis for environmental purification has attracted broad attention, including the remediation of water pollution, air contaminant treatment, photocatalytic sterilization etc., among which the application of semiconductor photocatalytic properties for the disinfection of soil surfaces, air and water, such as TiO2, is of great interest. In this paper, we give an overview of the photocatalytic antibacterial ability of TiO2 and other novel carbon material semiconductors. We have introduced the background information of photocatalytic disinfection and the disinfection mechanism of pure TiO2. Furthermore, other modified TiO2 sterilization materials are listed, such as those with doping modification. In addition, some novel carbon based nanomaterials are discussed as well in this review, for instance, g-C3N4, carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets. Finally, we present an outlook over two dimensional (2D) materials and coupling techniques based on the combination of photocatalysis and other sterilization technologies.

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Research progress of photocatalytic sterilization over semiconductors

An essential characteristic of quantum dots (QDs) is their antimicrobial activity. Compared with conventional antibiotics, QDs not only possess photoluminescence properties for imaging and photodynamic therapy but also have high structural stability. To enhance their antimicrobial efficiency, QDs usually are functionalized by polymers, including poly(ethylene glycol), polyethyleneimine, and poly-l-lysine. Also, QDs conjugated with polymers, such as poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and polyvinylidene fluoride, are prepared as antimicrobial membranes. The main antimicrobial mechanisms of QDs are associated with inducing free radicals, disrupting cell walls/membranes, and arresting gene expression. The different mechanisms from traditional antibiotics allow QDs to play antimicrobial roles in multi-drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. Since the toxicity of the QDs on animal cells is relatively low, they have broad application in antimicrobial research as an effective alternative of traditional antibiotics.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/11/10/1670/pdf

Antimicrobial Activity and Mechanism of Functionalized Quantum Dots.

Antimicrobial resistance is a recognized global challenge. Tools for bacterial detection can combat antimicrobial resistance by facilitating evidence-based antibiotic prescribing, thus avoiding their overprescription, which contributes to the spread of resistance. Unfortunately, traditional culture-based identification methods take at least a day, while emerging alternatives are limited by high cost and a requirement for skilled operators. Moreover, photodynamic inactivation of bacteria promoted by photosensitisers could be considered as one of the most promising strategies in the fight against multidrug resistance pathogens. In this context, carbon dots (CDs) have been identified as a promising class of photosensitiser nanomaterials for the specific detection and inactivation of different bacterial species. CDs possess exceptional and tuneable chemical and photoelectric properties that make them excellent candidates for antibacterial theranostic applications, such as great chemical stability, high water solubility, low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility. In this review, we will summarize the most recent advances on the use of CDs as antimicrobial agents, including the most commonly used methodologies for CD and CD/composites syntheses and their antibacterial properties in both in vitro and in vivo models developed in the last 3 years.

Chranjib Banerjee

Papers

Novel nanocomposite derived from ZnO/CdS QDs embedded crosslinked chitosan: An efficient photocatalyst and effective antibacterial agent