Fluorescent silicon-doped polymer dots: Preparation and its multiple applications as antibacterial, solid fluorescence and reducing agents

Antibacterial nano agents are promising to avoid drug resistance while exhibiting effective antibacterial functions. In this study, a kind of silicon-doped polymer dots, i.e. Si-PEIPDs, was synthesized from 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane and polyethyleneimine. The Si-PEIPDs possessed stable blue fluorescence in solution and solid phase. The Si-PEIPDs could entirely inhibit the E. coli and S. aureus at low concentration without any external assistance, and destroying membrane contributed to this effect. Meanwhile, the Si-PEIPDs possessed free radicals scavenging ability, which would be helpful for the healing of the bacterial infected wounds. Additionally, the Si-PEIPDs played the dual role as a capping and reduction agent for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles, forming nanocomposites which exerted a higher catalysis activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-nitroaniline. This work paved a novel avenue for the multiple applications of polymer dots in environmental remediation and medical and health field.