Antibacterial Graphene/Dopamine-Grafted Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite Aerogels Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles

Recently, rapid advancements in nanotechnology and materials science have facilitated the expanding application of antibacterial materials across various domains. This study presented 3D antibacterial graphene composite aerogels fabricated via a hydrothermal process using dopamine-grafted carboxymethyl cellulose (DOPA-CMC), ethylenediamine (EDA), and graphene oxide (GO) with negligible volume shrinkage, followed by decoration with AgNPs. The incorporation of reactants effectively converted GO to reduced graphene, facilitating the self-assembly of the latter into three-dimensional structures without shrinkage, occurring at a low temperature of 90 °C and within a short duration of 12 h, ultimately improving energy efficiency and enhancing safety. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed that AgNPs were synthesized into near-spherical shapes with homogeneous distribution and uniform diameters ranging from 10 to 25 nm, attributed to the 3D graphene aerogel matrix, which enhanced the immobilization and inhibited the aggregation of AgNPs. The antibacterial activity of the DCErGO/AgNPs aerogel was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, thereby suggesting that the aerogel exhibited a concentration-dependent antibacterial effect, with the DCErGO/AgNPs-0.5 composite aerogel demonstrating significant antibacterial efficacy due to the efficient dispersion of AgNPs. DCErGO/AgNPs aerogels possess broad application potential in healthcare and water treatment and present sustainable approaches for the functionalization and expanded utilization of graphene-based materials.