Immobilization of an Antibacterial Compound from Streptomyces sp. onto Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The pigment compound 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DTBBQ) was selectively immobilized on multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) during the electrochemical oxidation process. The glassy carbon electrode (GCE)/Q/MWNT showed a stable redox peak at 50 mV vs. Ag/AgCl in pH 7. Antibacterial activity of DTBBQ immobilized on multi-walled nanotube (hybrid DTBBQ/MWNT) against Bacillus cereus (MTCC 1168) and Escherichia coli (MTCC 2401) showed an enhanced minimum inhibitory concentration at 0.78 and 1.5 µg/mL against the bacterial pathogens. The results evidently show the immobilization of DTBBQ on CNT with enhanced redox response peaks observed at –0.01 V (Epa) and –0.2V (Epc) vs. Ag/AgCl. This new electrochemical method to immobilize the drugs onto MWNT is successfully demonstrated and would have potential applications as a remedy for removal of harmful microbes from the environment.