Reborn from the Ashes: Turning Organic Molecules to Antimicrobial Carbon Quantum Dots

Abstract

Using polyamines as the initial organic raw material and by applying simple pyrolysis methods, super cationic carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can easily be made. Since polyamines are natural products and the synthesis procedure is green, these polyamine-derived CQDs display low toxicity and high biocompatibility but possess high antibacterial activity. In addition, polyamine-derived CQDs display other unique properties, such as facilitation of wound healing and passage through the tight junction, which make them a very promising bactericide in future clinical applications.