Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Chlorophyllin Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanostructures

Abstract

ABSTRACTTo enhance the antimicrobial effect of graphene oxide against Escherichia coli, water soluble chlorophyllinand zinc metal ions were used to prepare two types of functionalized GO nanomaterials, namely, grapheneoxide-chlorophyllin and graphene oxide-chlorophyllin-Zn. Functionalized graphene oxide were characterizedusing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultra violet-visible spec-troscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Under similar concentration and incubation condi-tions, graphene oxide-chlorophyllin-Zn dispersion had the highest antibacterial activity, followed by grapheneoxide-chlorophyllin and graphene oxide. Changes in the bacterial cell membrane were also investigated by fieldemission scanning electron microscopy. The incubation of bacteria with functionalized graphene oxide nanoma-terials caused the loss of cellular integrity and consequently, cell death. The results suggested that the surfacechemistry and metal toxicity played a major role in making graphene oxide-chlorophyllin-Zn a strong antibacte-rial agent. Antibacterial mechanisms of the functionalized graphene oxide nanomaterials are proposed.KEYWORDS: