Probing the Gelation Synergies and Anti-Escherichia coli Activity of Fmoc-Phenylalanine/Graphene Oxide Hybrid Hydrogel

Abstract

The N-fluorenyl-9-methyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected amino acids have shown high antimicrobial application potential, among which the phenylalanine derivative (Fmoc-F) is the most well-known representative. However, the activity spectrum of Fmoc-F is restricted to Gram-positive bacteria only. The demand for efficient antimicrobial materials expanded research into graphene and its derivatives, although the reported results are somewhat controversial. Herein, we combined graphene oxide (GO) flakes with Fmoc-F amino acid to form Fmoc-F/GO hybrid hydrogel for the first time. We studied the synergistic effect of each component on gelation and assessed the material's bactericidal activity on Gramnegative Escherichia coli (E. coli). GO flakes do not affect Fmoc-F self-assembly per se but modulate the elasticity of the gel and speed up its formation. The hybrid hydrogel affects E. coli survival, initially causing abrupt bacterial death followed by the recovery of the surviving ones due to the inoculum effect (IE). The combination of graphene with amino acids is a step forward in developing antimicrobial gels due to their easy preparation, chemical modification, graphene functionalization, cost-effectiveness, and physicochemical/biological synergy of each component.

Antimicrobial Hydrogels: Potential Materials for Medical Application

“…The heterogeneous hydrogels exhibited bacterial inhibitory properties against Gramnegative Escherichia coli. [168] Sohni et al prepared lignin (LNP) from walnut shell offcuts and rGO@LNP synergistic hydrogels using graphene (rGO) substrates. rGO@LNP hydrogels are not only adsorption of methylene blue and Pb 2+ contaminants but also antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gramnegative) and Enterococcus faecalis (Gram-positive).…”

“…The heterogeneous hydrogels exhibited bacterial inhibitory properties against Gram‐negative Escherichia coli . [ 168 ] Sohni et al. prepared lignin (LNP) from walnut shell offcuts and rGO@LNP synergistic hydrogels using graphene (rGO) substrates.…”