Fluorescent antimicrobial hydrogel based on fluorophore N-doped carbon dots originated from cellulose nanocrystals

The current study represents a unique fabrication strategy for preparation of fluorescent hydrogels via incorporation of fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) as fluorophore entities into chitosan as a gelling matrix. QDs identified as carbon quantum dots (CQDs) & nitrogen containing carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) were preliminary synthesized from cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cationic cellulose nanocrystals (CCNCs), respectively. Cationic CNCs was prepared via chemical grafting with poly-di-allyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (CNCs-g-poly-DADMAC) through free chain polymerization reaction. Additionally, both of the prepared CQDs & NCQDs were impregnated in 3D interpenetrating network of chitosan for preparation of microbicide/florescent hydrogels (CQDs@Chs hydrogel & NCQDs@Chs hydrogel). The represented data revealed that, exploitation of cationic CNCs resulted in preparation of NCQDs with more controllable size and superior photoluminescence. Moreover, the increment in concentration of CNCs reflected in nucleation of enlarged QDs, at variance of CCNCs, whereas, increment of concentration resulted in significantly smaller-sized QDs. Size distribution of CQDs ingrained from 2% CNCs was estimated to be 8.2 nm, while, NCQDs ingrained from 2% CCNCs exhibited with size distribution of 3.8 nm. The prepared florescent CQDs@Chs hydrogel & NCQDs@Chs hydrogel showed excellent antimicrobial performance and the diameter of inhibition zone was estimated to be 31 mm, 26 mm & 22 mm against E. Coli, S. Aureus & C. Albicans with CQDs@Chs, respectively. Whereas, treatment of the as-mentioned microbial strains with NCQDs@Chs resulted in detection of inhibition zone diameter to be significantly higher as 34 mm, 28 mm & 25 mm for E. Coli, S. Aureus & C. Albicans, respectively. In a conclusion, cationic CNCs showed seniority in nucleation of QDs with significantly higher photoluminescence and microbicide activities.