Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Assessment of the Antimicrobial Activity of Metal-Free Carbon Dots Derived from <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Leaves

Carbon dots are fluorescent carbon nanomaterials that are less than 10 nm in size and they have gained considerable gaining importance due to their stability in chemicals, very good water solubility nature, cost effective and fluorescence properties. In this research, the extraction of carbon dots (C-dots) from the Moringa, and their potential to wield as a potent mineralized antibacterial agent, are under rigorous scrutiny. A single hydrothermal crucible was harnessed to smelt the CDs. Additionally, analytical tools like UV-visible spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to analyze the produced C-dots. By using the minimum inhibitory concentration and agar diffusion techniques, the antibacterial activity of the as-synthesised carbon dots was examined against Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., and Klebsiella. Results suggest that the synthesised carbon dots have maximum antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas sp. These results reveal that Moringa leaves are a potential source of carbon dots with antimicrobial efficiency.