ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Studying the bactericidal ability and biocompatibility of gold and gold oxide nanoparticles decorating on multi-wall carbon nanotubes

Duha S. Ahmed and Mustafa K. A. Mohammed

Department of Applied Science, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

E-mail: mustafa_kareem97@yahoo.com

Received: 6 March 2020  Accepted: 23 May 2020

Abstract:

Multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) was chemically oxidized by utilizing sulfuric and nitric acids in a ratio (2:1 v/v). The oxidized-MWNT was decorated with gold (Au) and gold oxide (Au₂O₃) nanoparticles by using precipitation approach. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and zeta potential techniques verified oxidization of MWNTs with oxygen functional groups. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, and electron microscope were confirmed the coating of Au and Au₂O₃ nanoparticles onto MWNTs surface. The dual florescent assay and colony forming assay were used to assess antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) after incubation in the dark and under visible light exposure. Comparing with the raw-MWNTs and the oxidized-MWNTs, which were investigated to have poor bactericidal ability against E. coli, MWNTs/Au and MWNTs/Au₂O₃ revealed stronger bactericidal efficiency, essentially after photo-activation for 3 h. Moreover, MTT assay showed that the nanohybrids have higher cell viability than raw-MWNTs and the oxidized-MWNTs. The obtained results propose that nanohybrids were prepared as potent antibacterial materials to inhibit and control the persistence and spreading of microorganism diseases.

Keywords: MWCNT; Au nanoparticles; Biocompatibility; Bactericidal ability; MTT assay

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-020-01223-0

Chemical Papers 74 (11) 4033–4046 (2020)