Silver-doped laser-induced graphene for potent surface antibacterial activity and anti-biofilm action

• Published in: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) Vol. 55; no. 48; pp. 689 - 6893
• Main Authors: Gupta, Abhishek, Holoidovsky, Lara, Thamaraiselvan, Chidambaram, Thakur, Amit K, Singh, Swatantra P, Meijler, Michael M, Arnusch, Christopher J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 11.06.2019
• Subjects: Antibacterial materials; Biofilms; Graphene; Nanoparticles; Polyethersulfones; Rural areas; Silver; Substrates; Toxicity
• ISSN: 1359-7345; 1364-548X
• DOI: 10.1039/c9cc02415h

Previously, laser-induced graphene (LIG) coated surfaces were shown to resist biofilm growth, although the material was not strongly antibacterial. Here, we show LIG surfaces doped with silver nanoparticles (Ag 0 or AgNPs) as highly antibacterial surfaces. Starting from AgNO 3 polyethersulfone (PES) polymer substrates, silver nanoparticles between 5-10 nm were generated in situ during the lasing process and stably embedded in the fibrous and porous structure of LIG in a single step. These silver doped LIG (Ag@LIG) surfaces were highly toxic to bacteria via a mechanism of both Ag + ion release and possible surface toxicity of the AgNPs. The added antibacterial function of Ag-nanoparticles expands the functionality of LIG coated surfaces and might lead to highly effective point of use/entry devices in rural areas or in disaster situations with contaminated water sources. Silver nanoparticles embedded in laser-induced graphene surfaces were generated in a one step process, resulting in highly antibacterial surfaces.