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Turkish Journal of Biology

Abstract

Background/aim: This study evaluates the challenges associated with overcoming antimicrobial resistance and innovative approaches to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections.

Materials and methods: Novel codoped carbon quantum dots (CCQDs) were synthesized using citric acid as the carbon source and L-cysteine as the nitrogen codoping atom. The formulation in which citric acid was retained was designated as CCQDs-1, whereas the purified version, from which citric acid was removed, was termed CCQDs-2. The antibacterial properties of CCQDs-1 and CCQDs-2 were compared using the agar well diffusion method. This study comprehensively characterizes these nanomaterials and evaluates their antibacterial potential, both alone and in combination with antibiotics, against a spectrum of gram-positive (G+) and gram-negative (G‒) bacterial strains.

Results: The study demonstrates the significant antibacterial efficacy of CCQDs, with notable variations observed between citric acid-containing and citric acid-neutralized formulations. The QDs exhibited remarkable characteristics, including a quantum yield of 90.3%–90.6%, intense fluorescence, and distinctive interactions with various antibiotics. In addition to their intrinsic antibacterial activity, the QDs also exhibited synergistic effects when combined with certain antibiotics. A synergistic effect was particularly observed when CCQDs-2 were combined with antibiotics such as gentamicin, levofloxacin, and clindamycin, suggesting potential mechanisms such as membrane permeability disruption and efflux pump saturation.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the promising potential of carbon-based QDs as innovative, biocompatible solutions to address the critical global challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

Author ORCID Identifier

DERYA DOĞANAY: 0000-0001-9147-4110

İBRAHİM AVŞAR: 0000-0002-0343-8994

ŞEVVAL ÖZCAN AYKOL: 0000-0002-3336-5618

GAMZE ÇAMLIK: 0000-0003-3282-8307

BESA BİLAKAYA: 0000-0001-9510-4467

İSMAİL DEĞİM: 0000-0002-9329-4698

DOI

10.55730/1300-0152.2774

Keywords

Composite carbon quantum dots, quantum dots, antibiotic resistance, antibacterial activity, teicoplanin, synergism

First Page

728

Last Page

737

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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