Preparation and evaluation of effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus of radiolabeled ampicillin‐loaded graphene oxide nanoflakes

Ampicillin is a one of effective antibiotics against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. This study aimed to label ampicillin‐loaded graphene oxide nanoflake ( AMP ‐ GO ) with 99m Tc and evaluate of its in vitro binding to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . Firstly, ampicillin was loaded into graphene oxide nanoflake prepared. AMP ‐ GO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR ) and scanning electron microscope ( SEM ) techniques, and the amount of loaded ampicillin onto GO was determined by UV ‐Vis absorption spectroscopy. AMP and AMP ‐ GO were labeled with 99m Tc using stannous chloride reducing agent. Labeling efficiency of 99m Tc‐ AMP ‐ GO was found to be 97.66 ± 2.06%. 99m Tc‐ AMP ‐ GO has higher binding efficiencies to both S. aureus and E. coli than 99m Tc‐ AMP . 99m Tc‐ AMP ‐ GO could be promising candidate as agent infection nuclear imaging. Furthermore, in vivo studies of 99m Tc‐ AMP ‐ GO with infected rats are planned to be performed.