Bactericidal activity of chlorine-loaded carbide-derived carbon against Escherichia coli and Bacillus anthracis.
The authors investigated the bactericidal activity of high-chlorine-content nanoporous carbide-derived carbon (CDC) against the Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis and the common Gram-negative enteric bacterium Escherichia coli. Chlorine-loaded nanoporous CDC produced by thermochemical etching of metals and metalloids by chlorination of carbides can retain up to 40 wt % of chlorine. Etching temperature and the structure and composition of carbides allow tuning the porosity of CDC. The CDC chlorine content depends on the synthesis temperature, pore size, and metal carbide used during preparation. It was observed that chlorine-loaded CDC killed up to 100% of exposed E. coli and B. anthracis spores and vegetative cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. CDC containing higher concentrations of chlorine killed bacteria to a greater extent and faster than did CDC containing lesser concentrations of chlorine. The results suggest that chlorine-loaded CDC can be used in several commercial, defense, and industrial activities and processes to kill bacteria.
Gogotsi
Yury
Y
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University College of Engineering, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. gogotsi@drexel.edu
Dash
Ranjan Kumar
RK
Yushin
Gleb
G
Carroll
Beth E
BE
Altork
Susan Rachel
SR
Sassi-Gaha
Sihem
S
Rest
Richard F
RF
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002244:Carbon; D002713:Chlorine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D008851:Micropore Filters; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002713:Chlorine; D002244:Carbon