title: Copper/zinc bimetal nanoparticles-dispersed carbon nanofibers: A novel potential antibiotic material.
abstract: Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) were asymmetrically distributed in carbon nanofibers (CNFs) grown on an activated carbon fiber (ACF) substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The CVD conditions were chosen such that the Cu NPs moved along with the CNFs during tip-growth, while the Zn NPs remained adhered at the ACF. The bimetal-ACF/CNF composite material was characterized by the metal NP release profiles, in-vitro hemolytic and antibacterial activities, and bacterial cellular disruption and adhesion assay. The synergetic effects of the bimetal NPs distributed in the ACFs/CNFs resulted from the relatively slower release of the Cu NPs located at the tip of the CNFs and faster release of the Zn NPs dispersed in the ACF. The Cu/Zn-grown ACFs/CNFs inhibited the growth of the Gram negative Escherichia coli, Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus, and Methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains, with superior efficiency (instant and prolonged inhibition) than the Cu or Zn single metal-grown ACFs/CNFs. The prepared bimetal-carbon composite material in this study has potential to be used in different biomedical applications such as wound healing and antibiotic wound dressing.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India; Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Banasthali 304022, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashfaq
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India. Electronic address: vermanishith@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nishith
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Banasthali 304022, India.
authors.forename: Suphiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002244:Carbon; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Antibiotics; Carbon nanofibers; Cu/Zn bimetals; Nanoparticles