Carbon quantum dots modified AgS/CS nanocomposite as effective antibacterial agents.

The present study attempted to synthesize carbon quantum dots (CQDs) through Aldol polymerization reaction, wherein acetone was used as the carbon source. A nano composite CQDs/AgS/CS was developed by loading as prepared CQDs and AgS nanoparticles on a chitosan substrate (CS). An in-situation growth of nanocomposites was adopted to study their antibacterial properties. Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were selected as the model bacteria. The CQDs/AgS/CS nanocomposites exhibited excellent inhibition not only against common pathogenic bacteria, but also those well-known drug-resistant bacteria. Moreover, compared to traditional antibiotics, the as prepared nanocomposites in the present work do not likely cause bacterial drug resistance, which make them a potential candidate for a new type of clinically applicable antibiotics.