Web Release Date: July 21,
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Exhibit Strong Antimicrobial Activity
Department of Chemical Engineering, Yale University, P.O. Box 208286, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286
Received April 12, 2007
In Final Form: June 12, 2007
Abstract:
We provide the first direct evidence that highly purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) exhibit strong antimicrobial activity. By using a pristine SWNT with a narrow diameter distribution, we demonstrate that cell membrane damage resulting from direct contact with SWNT aggregates is the likely mechanism leading to bacterial cell death. This finding may be useful in the application of SWNTs as building blocks for antimicrobial materials.
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