ABSTRACT
For the first time the Graphene Oxide (GO) antibacterial properties were tested on cyanobacteria, using GO nanodispersions at different concentrations, ranging from 85 μg\ml to 1 mg\ml. Among of all the most representative cyanobacterial strains, isolated from Roman Catacombs, Oculatella subterranea and Scytonema julianum were selected for this study. GO, obtained by using a Green-Chemistry approach, represents a functionalized multilayer (with a number of layers < 10) carbon based nano-material. It exhibited excellent chemical-physical and mechanical features. Several studies performed in nano-medicine field demonstrated its biocompatibility. Furthermore, ecotoxicity studies have also shown that graphene and graphene derivatives are eco-friendly nanomaterials. Recently, the antimicrobial effects of this new carbon nano-material have been studied on Escherichia coli. For the first time, this work shows the antibacterial properties of GO towards strains of cyanobacteria deteriorating Roman Catacombs. GO seems to inhibit the biofilm growth and for this purpose it could be suitable for the restoration of valuable surfaces of our Cultural Heritage.
