Abstract
The aim of present work was to unveil the process of cell membrane disruption and analyze the adverse effect of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) on Bacillus subtilis isolated from soil. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of CdTe was 0.45 μM. When bacterial cell was treated with CdTe QDs, firstly they interact with the cell and leads to membrane destabilization, as evident from the increase in anisotropy of treated cells. Confocal microscopy experiments reveal changes in the cell membrane integrity after 1 h of QD interaction, followed by internalization of the QDs after 2 h. Further, similar results were obtained by Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. After internalization, the anti-oxidative defense system gets activated as sensed by elevated level of superoxide dismutase and catalase after 2 h of QD incubation with cells. Cell lysis occurs, when stress level increases beyond the capacity of anti-oxidative defense system.
Published Version
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