Synthesis of bimetallic compounds derived from Polyvinylpyrrolidone modified-FeMo2S3 and ZnMo2S3 Mo-clusters and their antibacterial application against water-borne microorganisms

Waterborne microbial contamination represents a significant global environmental challenge. Microorganisms can induce water pollution, precipitating infectious disease outbreaks and posing a substantial threat to human health. Currently, the excessive use of conventional antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of bacterial resistance, posing a challenge to the design and development of antimicrobial agents with high antibacterial efficacy in diverse water such as rivers, lakes, and wastewater from microbiology laboratories. Bimetallic nanomaterials, that amalgamate the distinctive characteristics of diverse metals, are garnering attention due to their synergistic properties. In this study, PVP-FeMo 2 S 3 (PVP: Polyvinylpyrrolidone) and PVP-ZnMo 2 S 3 nanocrystals were synthesized by a high-temperature reaction. The prepared nanocrystals exhibited excellent biocompatibility, regular morphology, long-term stability, and remarkable antibacterial effects. The bacterial biofilms could be eradicated by the combination of photothermal (PTT) and photodynamic synergistic effects of PVP-FeMo 2 S 3 and PVP-ZnMo 2 S 3 nanocrystals. PVP-ZnMo 2 S 3 nanocrystals exhibited enhanced PTT conversion efficiency for water treatment. Remarkably, even after 20 cycles of recycling, PVP-ZnMo 2 S 3 retained substantial antibacterial efficacy. The excellent biosafety of PVP-ZnMo 2 S 3 further guarantees the safety of water quality post-treatment. Thus, PVP-ZnMo 2 S 3 bimetallic nanocrystals can serve as a novel antimicrobial agent for the treatment of microbial contamination in water. This study offers a potential strategy to mitigate secondary water pollution and prevent the development of drug resistance among pathogenic microorganisms.