Quercetin-Derived Platinum Nanomaterials Influence Particle Stability, Catalytic, and Antimicrobial Performance

Quercetin possesses high biological properties but low bioavailability, poor solubility, and rapid body clearance. Its structural modification is imperative for enhanced applications. Herein, we demonstrate the catalytic and antimicrobial characteristics of shape-dependent (cuboidal and peanuts) platinum nanoparticles. Modified quercetin, 4^'-QP, was employed as the reducing and stabilizing agent for the aqueous synthesis of PtNPs without extraneous reagents. Monodispersed platinum nanocubes (C-PtNPs) and nanopeanuts (P-PtNPs) were produced by reacting 4^'-QP and Pt ions in the ratios of 3:1 and 1:1, respectively. TEM characterization confirmed the formation of Pt nanocubes and Pt nanopeanuts, with their corresponding sizes of 39.1 ± 0.20 and 45.1 ± 0.24 nm. The shape-dependency of PtNPs on the nosocomial-causing bacteria, Citrobacter freundii ATCC 8090 (C. freundii) was determined by the Agar well-diffusion assay. Under the same particle size and dose treatments, C-PtNPs and P-PtNPs exhibited 16.28 ± 0.10 and 4.50 ± 0.15 mm zones of inhibition with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 25 and 45 μg/mL, respectively. SEM analysis of C-PtNPs treated C. freundii showed a damaged cell membrane and confirmed contact-killing as the antibacterial mechanism. The catalytic conversion of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-amino phenol (4-AP) was tested using a shape-dependent PtNPs catalyst in the presence of sodium borohydride. The conversion rates (k) of C-PtNPs and P-PtNPs in wastewater samples from New Jersey were 0.0108 and 0.00607 s^–1, respectively.