Abstract
An essential characteristic of quantum dots (QDs) is their antimicrobial activity. Compared with conventional antibiotics, QDs not only possess photoluminescence properties for imaging and photodynamic therapy but also have high structural stability. To enhance their antimicrobial efficiency, QDs usually are functionalized by polymers, including poly(ethylene glycol), polyethyleneimine, and poly-l-lysine. Also, QDs conjugated with polymers, such as poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and polyvinylidene fluoride, are prepared as antimicrobial membranes. The main antimicrobial mechanisms of QDs are associated with inducing free radicals, disrupting cell walls/membranes, and arresting gene expression. The different mechanisms from traditional antibiotics allow QDs to play antimicrobial roles in multi-drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. Since the toxicity of the QDs on animal cells is relatively low, they have broad application in antimicrobial research as an effective alternative of traditional antibiotics.
Highlights
The increasing prevalence of microbial infections and the rapid emergence of drug resistance to antibiotics created a critical health menace worldwide
We describe the mechanisms of functionalized quantum dots (QDs) with regard to different types of microbes, as well as the biocompatibility of the QDs
CdTe QDs possess electron transfer efficiency within bandgaps, producing photoluminescence, which is utilized in light-activated therapies; excitation of producing photoluminescence, which is utilized in light-activated therapies; excitation of an electron from the valence band to the conducting band occurs along the 450–650-nm wavelength [34]
Summary
The increasing prevalence of microbial infections and the rapid emergence of drug resistance to antibiotics created a critical health menace worldwide. QDs have unique physical and chemical properties, including high stability, an exceptionally narrow range of emission, and high quantum yield. They are widely used in biosensors, real-time tracking, multi-color labeling, and imaging [2,3]. Functionalized QDs attract much attention because of their exceptional antibacterial mechanisms, indicating that QDs could be applied in antibacterial research as an effective alternative to traditional antibiotic drugs. Production transmission electron microscopy nm (TEM), RT-PCR, and molecular dynamics studies To increase their antibacterial efficiency, QDs are alwaysMycobacterium functionalized using polymers and photosensitizers to induce more ROS and improve their attachment to bacterial components. The QDs interact with the phospholipid bilayer, thereby Main roughening and shrinking the cell
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