Issue 37, 2022

Illuminating the biochemical interaction of antimicrobial few-layer black phosphorus with microbial cells using synchrotron macro-ATR-FTIR

Abstract

In the fight against drug-resistant pathogenic bacterial and fungal cells, low-dimensional materials are emerging as a promising alternative treatment method. Specifically, few-layer black phosphorus (BP) has demonstrated its effectiveness against a wide range of pathogenic bacterial and fungal cells with studies suggesting low cytotoxicity towards healthy mammalian cells. However, the antimicrobial mechanism of action of BP is not well understood. Before new applications for this material can be realised, further in-depth investigations are required. In this work, the biochemical interaction between BP and a series of microbial cells is investigated using a variety of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to provide a greater understanding of the antimicrobial mechanism. Synchrotron macro-attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) micro-spectroscopy is used to elucidate the chemical changes occurring outside and within the cell of interest after exposure to BP nanoflakes. The ATR-FTIR data, coupled with high-resolution microscopy, reveals major physical and bio-chemical changes to the phospholipids and amide I and II proteins, as well as minor chemical changes to the structural polysaccharides and nucleic acids when compared to untreated cells. These changes can be attributed to the physical interaction of the BP nanoflakes with the cell membranes, combined with the oxidative stress induced by the degradation of the BP nanoflakes. This study provides insight into the biochemical interaction of BP nanoflakes with microbial cells, allowing for a better understanding of the antimicrobial mechanism of action that will be important for the next generation of applications such as implant coatings, wound dressings, or medical surfaces.

Graphical abstract: Illuminating the biochemical interaction of antimicrobial few-layer black phosphorus with microbial cells using synchrotron macro-ATR-FTIR

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Xim 2021
Accepted
17 Kax 2021
First published
20 Kax 2021

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022,10, 7527-7539

Illuminating the biochemical interaction of antimicrobial few-layer black phosphorus with microbial cells using synchrotron macro-ATR-FTIR

Z. L. Shaw, S. Cheeseman, L. Z. Y. Huang, R. Penman, T. Ahmed, S. J. Bryant, G. Bryant, A. J. Christofferson, R. Orrell-Trigg, C. Dekiwadia, V. K. Truong, J. P. Vongsvivut, S. Walia and A. Elbourne, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022, 10, 7527 DOI: 10.1039/D1TB02575A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements