Antibacterial efficiency of carbon dots against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria: A review

The nontoxic characteristics and inherent antibacterial potency of Carbon dots (CDs) have earned immense attention in the last few years. As the increasing antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains create critical health risks, replacement of conventional antibiotics with alternative antibacterial agents is highly encouraged. The light-driven antibacterial action CDs is a safe process with minimal side effects. Direct interaction of CDs with bacterial cells also contribute to the overall antibacterial activity. Unique and complex mechanisms of antibacterial activity of CDs involve ROS generation, degeneration of cell structure, and leakage of the cytoplasm because of DNA binding and modulation of gene expression. This review provides a systematic overview of the antibacterial potency of CDs to eradicate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Various mechanisms of antibacterial activity and factors that contribute to antibacterial action of CDs also discussed. It also highlights the synergistic effects on the antibacterial performance of modified CDs and significant future research concerns.