Composites Composed of Polydopamine Nanoparticles, Graphene Oxide, and ε-Poly-l-lysine for Removal of Waterborne Contaminants and Eradication of Superbugs

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 30% people in the world lack access to safe drinking water due to the presence of toxic waterborne contaminants, which kills more than 7.6 million children every year. Marine mussels secure themselves in the environment via foot proteins containing 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (DOPA) and lysine amino acids. Inspired by mussel surface chemistry, in the current paper, we report the development of novel composite nanoparticles via functionalization of polydopamine nanoparticle with graphene oxide and e-poly-l-lysine, which can be used in decontamination of toxic waterborne contaminants and disinfection of drug resistance pathogens from environmental water samples. Reported composite nanoparticles with specific surface area 410 m2g–1, pore volume 0.620 cm3 g–1, and pore size between 2 and 130 nm have been used as channels for water passage and captured toxic metals as well as drug resistant pathogens. The surface oxygen-containing groups from GO and the func...