Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial

Bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant strains, remain a significant global public health challenge. The growing resistance to traditional antibiotics highlights the urgent need for novel antibacterial strategies. Herein, we successfully synthesized three types of nit...

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Main Authors: Hou-Qun Yuan, Zhu-Lin Wang, Meng-Ke Wang, Qiu-Yu Zhang, Xin-Yi Liang, Ting-Zhong Xie, Li-Ge He, Peiyao Chen, Hongda Zhu, Guang-Ming Bao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/910
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author Hou-Qun Yuan
Zhu-Lin Wang
Meng-Ke Wang
Qiu-Yu Zhang
Xin-Yi Liang
Ting-Zhong Xie
Li-Ge He
Peiyao Chen
Hongda Zhu
Guang-Ming Bao
author_facet Hou-Qun Yuan
Zhu-Lin Wang
Meng-Ke Wang
Qiu-Yu Zhang
Xin-Yi Liang
Ting-Zhong Xie
Li-Ge He
Peiyao Chen
Hongda Zhu
Guang-Ming Bao
author_sort Hou-Qun Yuan
collection DOAJ
description Bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant strains, remain a significant global public health challenge. The growing resistance to traditional antibiotics highlights the urgent need for novel antibacterial strategies. Herein, we successfully synthesized three types of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (tBuCz-CDs, HAH-CDs, and EC-CDs) via hydrothermal method using tert-butyl carbazate, hydroxyacetic acid hydrazide, and ethyl carbazate as precursors. tBuCz-CDs, HAH-CDs, and EC-CDs exhibited potent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>MRSA</i>), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 100, 100, and 150 µg/mL, respectively. Their antibacterial effect on <i>MRSA</i> was comparable to that of the widely used antibiotic vancomycin hydrochloride, as shown by the zone of inhibition assay. Furthermore, the carbon dots exhibited low cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity showing their excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. They also significantly promoted wound healing compared to untreated controls. Notably, the serial passaging of <i>MRSA</i> exposed to these carbon dots did not result in the bacterial resistance. Mechanistic studies revealed that the carbon dots exerted antibacterial effects through multiple mechanisms, including the disruption of bacterial membranes, inhibition and eradication of biofilm formation, generation of reactive oxygen species, and DNA damage. This work highlights the potential of nitrogen-doped CDs as a promising material for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections and underscores their potential for further biomedical development.
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spelling doaj-art-ee922fcece574050ba29b505a75caedd2025-08-20T03:27:25ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-06-01151291010.3390/nano15120910Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant BacterialHou-Qun Yuan0Zhu-Lin Wang1Meng-Ke Wang2Qiu-Yu Zhang3Xin-Yi Liang4Ting-Zhong Xie5Li-Ge He6Peiyao Chen7Hongda Zhu8Guang-Ming Bao9Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaBacterial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant strains, remain a significant global public health challenge. The growing resistance to traditional antibiotics highlights the urgent need for novel antibacterial strategies. Herein, we successfully synthesized three types of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (tBuCz-CDs, HAH-CDs, and EC-CDs) via hydrothermal method using tert-butyl carbazate, hydroxyacetic acid hydrazide, and ethyl carbazate as precursors. tBuCz-CDs, HAH-CDs, and EC-CDs exhibited potent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>MRSA</i>), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 100, 100, and 150 µg/mL, respectively. Their antibacterial effect on <i>MRSA</i> was comparable to that of the widely used antibiotic vancomycin hydrochloride, as shown by the zone of inhibition assay. Furthermore, the carbon dots exhibited low cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity showing their excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. They also significantly promoted wound healing compared to untreated controls. Notably, the serial passaging of <i>MRSA</i> exposed to these carbon dots did not result in the bacterial resistance. Mechanistic studies revealed that the carbon dots exerted antibacterial effects through multiple mechanisms, including the disruption of bacterial membranes, inhibition and eradication of biofilm formation, generation of reactive oxygen species, and DNA damage. This work highlights the potential of nitrogen-doped CDs as a promising material for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections and underscores their potential for further biomedical development.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/910carbon dotswound healingantibacterial resistance<i>MRSA</i>
spellingShingle Hou-Qun Yuan
Zhu-Lin Wang
Meng-Ke Wang
Qiu-Yu Zhang
Xin-Yi Liang
Ting-Zhong Xie
Li-Ge He
Peiyao Chen
Hongda Zhu
Guang-Ming Bao
Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial
Nanomaterials
carbon dots
wound healing
antibacterial resistance
<i>MRSA</i>
title Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial
title_full Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial
title_fullStr Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial
title_full_unstemmed Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial
title_short Hydrazine Derivative-Based Carbon Dots for Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial
title_sort hydrazine derivative based carbon dots for potent antibacterial activity against multidrug resistant bacterial
topic carbon dots
wound healing
antibacterial resistance
<i>MRSA</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/910
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