Synthesis and antibacterial activity of nitrogen-doped carbon dots

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-4852.2026.345892

Keywords:

antibacterial, bactericides, carbon dots, S. aureus, E. coli

Abstract

The aim of our work is to synthesize N-CD and to evaluate its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Material and Methods. N-CDs were synthesized from citric acid and urea using a bottom-up approach using microwave-assisted treatment. The nitrogen doping in the CDs structure was studied on an FTIR (Shimadzu IR Prestige-21). The optical properties of N-CDs were detected using fluorescence spectroscopy (Shimadzu RF-6000) and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy (Shimadzu 1800). The size of N-CDs nanoparticles was confirmed on a TEM (JEOL-JEM 1400). Elemental analysis was performed on an ELEMENTAR vario EL cube. The antibacterial activity of N-CDs was investigated using the agar disk diffusion and dilution method against S.aureus and E.coli bacteria.

Results. The structure and characteristics of N-CDs were confirmed through several stages. The size of N-CDs based on TEM images ranged from 2.4 to 2.6 nm with a fairly uniform size distribution. The success of nitrogen doping was confirmed through fluorescence spectra, UV-vis absoption spectra, FTIR spectra and elemental analysis. The antibacterial activity tests showed that N-CDs were able to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus, clear zone=9.93±0.2 mm, MIC=50 µg/mL, IC50=272 µg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, clear zone=8.29±0.3 mm, MIC=50 µg/mL, IC50=339 µg/mL) which makes it a broad-spectrum antibacterial candidate.

Conclusions: N-CD was successfully synthesized and exhibited broad bacterial inhibitory activity. However, its inhibitory performance against Gram-positive bacteria was much better, as seen from the clear zone diameter and IC50 values

Supporting Agencies

  • Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP)
  • Center for Higher Education Funding (BPPT)
  • Indonesia Education Scholarship (BPI)
  • Ministry of Education, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia
  • STIKES Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta

Author Biographies

Wiwit Sepvianti, Universitas Gadjah Mada; STIKES Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta

Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry

Department of Blood Bank Technology

Suherman Suherman, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Professor

Department of Chemistry

Bambang Purwono, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Professor

Department of Chemistry

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Synthesis and antibacterial activity of nitrogen-doped carbon dots

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Published

2026-02-28

How to Cite

Sepvianti, W., Suherman, S., & Purwono, B. (2026). Synthesis and antibacterial activity of nitrogen-doped carbon dots. ScienceRise: Pharmaceutical Science, (1 (59), 69–76. https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-4852.2026.345892

Issue

No. 1 (59) (2026)

Section

Pharmaceutical Science

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Copyright (c) 2026 Bambang Purwono, Wiwit Sepvianti, Suherman Suherman

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