Construction of superficial pyrrolidone-rich polymer nanoparticles as integrated sustainable materials for iodine adsorption and bacteria eradication

The past few decades have witnessed plenty of research activities in advanced adsorbents for iodine pollutant treatment, but little attention has been paid to the reutilization of them. Herein, we report on superficial pyrrolidone-rich polymer nanoparticles (i.e., PMP NPs) as integrated sustainable materials for the effective removal of iodine from waste, coupled with their reutilization in antibacterial-associated areas. The pyrrolidone groups on the surface of PMP NPs served as adsorbing sites for capturing iodine and having the special capability of desorbing iodine in the presence of starch or bacteria. The as-captured iodine showed excellent in vitro antibacterial ability against 10⁷ CFU·mL⁻¹ of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). We believed that this “turning waste into treasure” strategy based on the synergism of iodine adsorption and antibacterial utilization should have great potential for environmental remediation and public healthcare.