An Alternative Pre-Treatment Sterilization Solution Synthesis Utilizing Boric Acid Doped Graphene Oxide

In medicine and dentistry, the sterilization process is mandatory for the benefit of both patients and healthcare personnel. Tools used in treatment interventions should lack microorganisms and must be sterilized after every treatment intervention. Before sterilization, chemical cleaning solutions are used in washing machines in order to remove not only biological debris but also composite and adhesive materials remaining on stainless steel hand instruments. Before sterilization by use of an autoclave, additional mechanical cleaning is performed for still remaining debris according to the performance of the chemical procedure. Boron and boron products are found in the composition of many medical products such as lens solutions, creams, mouth rinse, and eye drops due to their antimicrobial properties. Graphene oxide is a water-dispersible graphene counterpart and with this fundamental property, it is often preferred in the formation of water-based hybrid materials. In this study, boron-doped graphene oxide sterilization pre-treatment solution was produced in order to clean hand instruments used in medicine and dentistry, and performance is compared with market products. Graphene Oxide (GO) was synthesized by the Modified Improved Hummers method without using sodium nitrate. Boron atoms were successfully doped into the GO structure with an atomic percentage of 2 (% w/w) by using boric acid (B) as a precursor. Surface structures and elemental analysis of the synthesized GO and Boron-doped GO (BGO) were made by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).  BGO bond was observed by Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) analysis. The efficiency of the BGO solution was tested and compared using cleaning process monitoring indicators.