Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference
October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota
Carbon Quantum Dots from Kraft Lignin: Novel Bacterial Antidote?
Hilde
van Gijssel
Professor
Valley City State University
Co-authors: Ava Wille, undergraduate student, Valley City State University, Anabela Kajibanga, graduate student, University of North Dakota, Thomas Stach, graduate student, North Dakota State University, Audrey LaVallie, Instructor, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Susan Eliazer, Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota, Uwe Burghaus, Associate Professor, North Dakota State University, Maria Goriacheva, Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota
Session
Concurrent Presentation Session A, Group 3
Hidatsa Room
Antibiotic resistant bacteria constitute a serious economic and epidemiological concern and a major threat to public health. Bacterial pathogens have evolved mechanisms which allow them to successfully circumvent the immune response and survive in the host’s body and quickly adapt to antibiotic’s exposure. There is an urgent need to develop novel non-antibiotic-based agents that can by-pass bacteria’s adaption mechanisms. Recent studies suggest that carbon quantum dots (QDs) are a promising candidate for this role. Carbon QDs are tiny nanoparticles which mainly consist of carbon atoms, arranged in clusters with diameters less than 10 nm. Carbon QDs stand out among other nanoparticles due to their immense potential in biomedical applications due to low toxicity and an exceptional biocompatibility. Carbon QDs have been already successfully employed in bioimaging, labelling, cancer therapy, biosensing, and drug delivery. Additionally, several studies suggest that QDs may be effective in killing bacteria. This project is collaboration between research groups at 5 ND institutions and tested Lignin derived Quantum Dots (LigQdots) for optimization of synthesis, surface characterization, evaluating cytotoxicity on skin epidermal cells, and Antibacterial Activity. HaCaT cells (immortalized keratinocytes) were treated with LigQdots for 24, 48 or 72 hours and no toxicity at concentrations lower than 1 mg/ml. LigQdots have a similar antibacterial strength as the ubiquitously used 70% ethanol solution in the standard “Use-Dilution test” and “Zone of Inhibition” test. Taken together, LigQdots shows potential as antibacterial agents and further research is warranted.