Functionalization, characterization, and antibacterial activity of single wall and multi wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Abstract The raw-SWNTs and raw-MWNTs were chemically oxidized with a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid under ultrasonic vibration. The functionalized-SWNTs (F-SWNTs) and functionalized-MWNTs (F-MWNTs) were characterized by using ultra violet-visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The antibacterial efficiency of SWNTs and MWNTs towards Escherichia coli (E. coli) as gram-negative bacteria was evaluated via viable count method and fluorescence microscopy. The results of viable count method showed that the SWNTs and MWNTs have higher inhibitory effect after being treated with H 2 SO 4 /HNO 3 .The E. coli images under fluorescence microscopy exhibited that almost red color for dead cells, which confirms the efficient lethal ability of F-SWNTs and F-MWNTs.