Importance of Surface Functionalities for Antibacterial Properties of Carbon Spheres

• Carbon spheres (CS) are interesting materials for antibacterial applications. Herein, CS are produced by a green process utilizing microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment of cellulose. The CS are then postmodified in acidic and basic solutions to evaluate the influence of different functionalities on antibacterial properties. CS contain OH/COOH, C Symbol of the Klingon Empire C, and C Symbol of the Klingon Empire O functionalities, while O-CS produced by acid treatment of CS have additional COOH, and NH/NH2 groups, resulting in carbon spheres with negatively and positively charged groups in dispersion. Treatment with base (Na-CS) removes low molecular weight species with oxygen and results in carbon spheres with the highest C/O ratio. CS, O-CS, and Na-CS have nonporous morphology and are in micro/nanometer sizes, although, smaller sized spheres, hollow spheres, and fragments are also attained in the case of O-CS. O-CS show antibacterial activity toward both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The minimum inhibitory concentration is 200 and 400 mu g mL(-1) for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, and is achieved only after 3 h of incubation. Neither CS nor Na-CS exhibit antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity is suggested to originate from electrostatic interactions between O-CS and the bacteria.

Nyckelord

antibacterial; carbon spheres; carbonization; electrostatic interactions; microwaves; surface functionality

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