A selection of current disinfection strategies include spray disinfectants containing harsh chemicals, ultra-violet radiation that is deleterious to human health, and antimicrobial nanotechnology-for example silver nanoparticles-which have an inherent antimicrobial character that is not controllable except by dose/exposure.Īn alternative technique known as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) -or for variations in application: antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (APDI) of bacteria or photocatalytic disinfection -presents an intriguing option for a different class of disinfection materials. These cumulative effects place a premium on developing techniques to mitigate the threat of infection from deadly pathogens, namely by improved sterilization technologies. For those with concurrent conditions, such as cancer, bacterial infections can severely worsen patient health infections may also delay wound recovery even when treated, with some negative health impacts associated with current disinfection techniques. Additionally, bacteria have a multitude of mechanisms by which they can rapidly acquire resistance, which is of particular concern for high-risk populations such as those in healthcare settings. Antibiotics have been a primary tool for combating infectious diseases, yet the timescale of development for next-generation antibiotics remains lengthy due to the complexities and cost of not only drug discovery, but also clinical testing and ultimately approval. Introduction: Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy and Carbon NanodotsĪlthough the threat of antibiotic resistance development in pathogenic bacteria is not a new challenge, it remains to date a pressing concern in regard to global health. This review provides a focused foundation for which APDT using carbon dots may be expanded in future research, ultimately on a global scale.ġ. Limitations and challenges are also discussed, and contemporary experimental strategies presented. Herein we provide a focused review on the recent progress for carbon nanodots in photodynamic disinfection, highlighting select studies of carbon dots as intrinsic photosensitizers, structural tuning strategies for optimization, and their use in hybrid disinfection systems and materials. To date, reviews have examined the overall antimicrobial properties of carbon dot structures. Carbon dots, or fluorescent, quasi-spherical nanoparticle structures, provide an inexpensive and “green” solution for a new class of APDT photosensitizers. These molecular agents are frequently limited in widespread application by synthetic expense and complexity. Small molecule “photosensitizers” have been developed to date for this application, using light energy to inflict damage and death on nearby pathogens via the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increasingly, research focuses on alternate techniques, such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) or photocatalytic disinfection, to combat pathogens even before infection occurs. Antibiotic resistance development in bacteria is an ever-increasing global health concern as new resistant strains and/or resistance mechanisms emerge each day, out-pacing the discovery of novel antibiotics.
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