Facile Synthesis of Polymer Dot and Its Antibacterial Action Against Staphylococcus aureus

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rising from nosocomial infections is an escalating threat to human life nowadays due to the overuse of drugs. The multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria have increased morbidity and mortality rates, becoming a crucial global clinical challenge. Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is one of the nosocomial pathogens that cause severe invasive diseases and skin infections to human health worldwide. Herein, a non-conjugated polymer dot (NCPD) was synthesized from less toxic and biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via hydrothermal treatment. The fluorescence of the polymer dots was enhanced by nitrogen doping. The as-synthesized nitrogen-doped polymer dots (PDs) exhibit excitation-dependent luminescence emission and show green color fluorescence under UV light. The average size of the synthesized functionalized non-conjugated polymer dot is obtained as 4.08 nm, and they exhibit an amorphous structure. No antibacterial property was observed for bulk polymer, but the doped polymer dots showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.