20.500.12556/DiRROS-22942 Biocompatible carbon dots/polyurethane composites as potential agents for combating bacterial biofilms N-doped carbon quantum dots/polyurethane and gamma ray-modified graphene quantum dots/polyurethane composites Pathogen bacteria appear and survive on various surfaces made of steel or glass. The existence of these bacteria in different forms causes significant problems in healthcare facilities and society. Therefore, the surface engineering of highly potent antimicrobial coatings is highly important in the 21st century, a period that began with a series of epidemics. Methods: In this study, we prepared two types of photodynamic polyurethane-based composite films encapsulated by N-doped carbon quantum dots and graphene quantum dots irradiated by gamma rays at a dose of 50 kGy, respectively. Further, we investigated their structural, optical, antibacterial, antibiofouling and biocompatibility properties. Results: Nanoelectrical and nanomechanical microscopy measurements revealed deviations in the structure of these quantum dots and polyurethane films. The Young’s modulus of elasticity of the carbon and graphene quantum dots was several times lower than that for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with chirality (6,5). The electrical properties of the carbon and graphene quantum dots were quite similar to those of the SWCNTs (6,5). The polyurethane films with carbon quantum dots were much more elastic and smoother than the films with graphene quantum dots. Antibacterial tests indicated excellent antibacterial activities of these films against a wide range of tested bacteria, whereas the antibiofouling activities of both composite films showed the best results against the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli biofilms. Biocompatibility studies showed that neither composite film exhibited any cytotoxicity or hemolysis. Conclusions: Obtained results indicate that these composite films could be used as antibacterial surfaces in the healthcare facilities. nanoelektrika nanomhanika biokompatibilnost true false true MDPI Švica Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik © 2024 by the authors. Neznano 2025-07-10 09:56:57 2025-07-10 09:56:57 2025-10-24 03:52:48 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2024 0 0 No. 12 Vol. 16 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2024-09-25 2024-12-04 2024-12-06 539 1999-4923 10.3390/pharmaceutics16121565 241925379 RAZ_Markovic_Zoran_2024.pdf RAZ_Markovic_Zoran_2024.pdf 1 4D659BB40EE7B772A3004E5D9AF06A2F 6f1b32640cacc7bdc414caeae2d4becbaa94be4321fbd05a65fabef5e2054fc7 388587b2-5d67-11f0-8080-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=33432 Institut Jožef Stefan 0 0 0