Carbon Dots from Tire Waste for the Photodegradation of Methyl Orange Dye, Antimicrobial Activity, and Molecular Docking Study

Abstract In this study, solvothermal pathway was employed for the synthesis of P, N codoped C‐dot using tire waste as a sustainable source of carbon and nitrogen. Comprehensive analyses encompassing X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), FT‐IR, cyclic voltammetry, and UV‐Vis spectra were used to assess the crystalline structure, purity, size, fluorescence up‐conversion, and morphological attributes of the nanomaterial. Subsequently, the produced C‐dots were evaluated for their efficacy in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange dyes, demonstrating notable success in degrading methyl orange dye within eight hours in the visible region. Furthermore, the same nanomaterial was applied for carrying out agar disk‐diffusion assays against a spectrum of microorganisms. Results revealed substantial inhibition zones against Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Elucidating the antimicrobial mechanism, molecular‐docking simulations were excuted using on AutoDock Vina with designated ligands. The results indicated a strong binding affinity of the C‐dots with certain proteins associated with antibacterial activity. This observation suggests that the synthesized C‐dots effectively engage with the active sites of these proteins, indicating their potential as promising antibacterial agents. Importantly, this study implies that C‐dots do not induce protein denaturation, thereby warranting further investigation of their utility as antibacterial agents.