Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is a promising antibacterial material, the efficacy of which can be further enhanced by the addition of silver nanoparticles (nAg). In this study, the mechanisms of antibacterial activity of rGO–nAg nanocomposite against several important human pathogenic multi-drug resistant bacteria, namely Gram-positive coccal Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative rod-shaped Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis are investigated. At the same concentration (100 µg/ml), rGO–nAg nanocomposite was significantly more effective against all three pathogens than either rGO or nAg. The nanocomposite was equally active against P. mirabilis and S. aureus as systemic antibiotic nitrofurantoin, and significantly more effective against E. coli. Importantly, the inhibition was much faster in the case of rGO–nAg nanocomposite compared to nitrofurantoin, attributed to the synergistic effects of rGO–nAg mediated contact killing and oxidative stress. This study may provide new insights for the better understanding of antibacterial actions of rGO–nAg nanocomposite and for the better designing of graphene-based antibiotics or other biomedical applications.

Recently, cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPs) have provided many new opportunities in dermatology by providing a multimodal action of reactive agents (RA). This review critically examines the generation, transport, and physical effects induced by CAPs in dermatologic treatments. We introduce the most suitable plasma sources, which provide a multitude of physical effects on the skin without any electric or thermal shocks. The mechanisms of generation and transport of the key reactive species are introduced and examined from the viewpoint of their applications in dermatology. Special attention is paid to study the “plasmaporation” effect, which enables RA penetration through healthy and damaged skin. Plausible physical mechanisms involved in the CAP treatment of some of the most common skin diseases are analyzed.

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