In this project, we studied the thermal and chemical method for the synthesis of carbon dots (CDs)/Hematite (α-Fe2O3) quantum dots and the preparation of hydroxypropyl cellulose cross-linked chitosan (HPCCS) and ulvan (UN) was performed by chemical method. Carbon dots/α-Fe2O3 quantum dots with size distribution of 3-5 nm were completely encapsulated in the HPCCS/UN NPs to obtain composites, which indicated unique characteristics with respect to antimicrobial, pH-responsive and optical properties. The CDs-HQDs/HPCCS/UN nanocomposites exhibited a single-excitation (440 nm), dual-emission fluorescence property (505 nm and 628 nm for green and red light from CDs-HQDs and HPCCS/UN NPs). The nanocomposites played as a pH-responsive drug delivery process to release ulvan at a fast rate in pH 7.4 buffer solution but at a slow rate in low pH solutions. The CDs-HQDs/HPCCS/UN nanocomposites gained the highest photocatalytic activity for degrading 4-chlorophenol (4-CPh) as a pollutant (>98% during 70 min under sunlight irradiation). Moreover, the nanocomposites indicated great inhibitory influences towards bacterial and fungal.
Keywords: Antimicrobial; Biopolymer; Carbon dot; Catalytic; Hematite.
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