Carbon-Dot Protein Nanoassembly for combination antibiotic-photodynamic Therapy application

Authors: Saptarshi Mandal, S R Prasad, D Mandal and Prolay Das

Abstract: Derivatization of surface carboxyl functional groups of Anthrarufin derived green-emitting CD with amine functionality of BSA usher distinct changes in the photophysics of CD including an unprecedented ~50 nm shift in its excitation maxima, decrease in fluorescence lifetime and concomitant increase in ROS generation. Substantial conformational changes of BSA was witnessed upon conjugation with CD, rendering the BSA-CD conjugate resistant to pepsinolysis. A protease-proof nano-assembly was derived from the BSA-CD conjugate through desolvation that simultaneously hosts a prototype antibiotic and generates ROS with excellent efficiency, making it an attractive platform for antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy (A-PDT) applications. Systemic annihilation of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was achieved with the BSA-CD nano-assembly and envisioned as alternatives to traditional photosensitizers.

Publishing Date: September 2019

Published in: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces