Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) using 4-aminophenol doped graphene quantum dots GQDs as reducing reagent and stabilizer

H. Ünver1, B. Boyacioglu2, M. Yıldız3, Neslihan Demir4, Nuray Yıldırım5, Ayhan Elmalı6
1Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ankara, TR-06100 Besevler-Ankara, Turkey. 
E-mail: email.of. corresponding_Huseyin.Unver@ankara.edu.tr
2Vocational School of Health Services, Ankara University, TR-06290 Kecioren-Ankara, Turkey
3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, TR-17100 Çanakkale, Turkey.
4Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17100 Çanakkale, Turkey
5Vocational School of Health Services, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17100 Çanakkale, Turkey
6Department of Physics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, TR-06100, Beşevler , Turkey

Microbial infections are considered a major health problem with a growing concern toward those that do not respond to treatment due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria [1]. The prevention and treatment of these infections has drawn considerable attention and presents a critical challenge to develop drugs, antibiotics and/or antibacterial substances able to inhibit bacterial growth [2,3]. In this work, GQDs/NiNPs Nano composites are prepared by using graphene quantum dots and nickel nitrate and hydrothermal reaction as starting materials and synthesis method. GQDs/NiNPs Nano composites are characterized by FT-IR, UV-VIS, TEM, TGA, florescence spectroscopy and DLS methods. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles was investigated for its minimum inhibitory concentration to bacteria and yeast cultures. The interactions between the GQDs and DNA were investigated using UV-Visible spectroscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis. 

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