Table 2 CNTs as antimicrobial agents, along with their mechanisms and characteristics

CNT

TMV

200 mg/L

Damages optical tissues and reduces the reproduction of TMV

–

[181]

MWCNT

Alternaria solani

100 mg/L

Enzymatic degradation

–

[172]

MWCNT

TuMV

200 mg/L

Inhibits viral proliferation, decreases the TuMV protein coat

15–60

[253]

MWCNT

Escherichia coli

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacillus subtilis

100 µg/mL

Membrane integrity lost due to piercing/trapping

–

[254]

MWCNT

Pseudomonas fluorescens

–

Inhibits bacterial adhesion under electrochemical potential

[255]

SWCNT

Salmonella typhimurium

100 µg/mL

Rupture of outer membrane

–

[161]

SWCNT

Ralstonia solanacearum

1 mg/mL

Damages the cell membrane causing the release of cytoplasmic contents

–

[173]

SWCNT

E. coli

0.1–0.2 mg/mL

Cell membrane damage due to formation of CNT aggregates

–

[256]

SWCNT

E. coli

5 µg/mL

Reduction in cellular integrity

80.1

[162]

SWCNT

Bacillus anthracis

200 µg/mL

Disruption of cell membrane

81.2

[162]

SWCNT

Staphylococcus epidermidis

1/70 CNT/polymer

Cells are deactivated due to loss of cell viability

98

[257]

SWCNT

Salmonella typhimurium, B. subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus

200–250 µg/mL

Formation of needle-like aggregates around the cell as result cell become damage

~ 7 log

[165]

SWCNT

Salmonella typhimurium

62.5 µg/mL

Inhibition of some genes responsible for metabolism and outer membrane integrity

–

[258]