title: Antibacterial potential of electrochemically exfoliated graphene sheets.
abstract: Electrochemically exfoliated graphene is functionalized graphene with potential application in biomedicine. Two most relevant biological features of this material are its electrical conductivity and excellent water dispersibility. In this study we have tried to establish the correlation between graphene structure and its antibacterial properties. The exfoliation process was performed in a two electrode-highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrochemical cell. Solution of ammonium persulfate was used as an electrolyte. Exfoliated graphene sheets were dispersed in aqueous media and characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance, zeta potential, contact angle measurements and surface energy. Antibacterial assays have shown lack of the significant antibacterial activity. Major effect on bacteria was slight change of bacteria morphology. Membrane remained intact despite significant change of chemical content of membrane components.
authors.affiliation: Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84541 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: zm25101967@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zoran M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Marković
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia.
authors.forename: Danka M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Matijašević
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vladimir B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Pavlović
authors.affiliation: Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, P.O.B. 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Svetlana P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jovanović
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivanka D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Holclajtner-Antunović
authors.affiliation: Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84541 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Zdenko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Špitalský
authors.affiliation: Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84541 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Matej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mičušik
authors.affiliation: Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, P.O.B. 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miroslav D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Dramićanin
authors.affiliation: Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, P.O.B. 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dušan D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Milivojević
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miomir P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nikšić
authors.affiliation: Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, P.O.B. 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: biljatod@vin.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Biljana M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Todorović Marković
keywords: Antibacterial tests; Atomic force microscopy; Exfoliated graphene; Scanning electron microscopy; X-photoelectron spectroscopy