Functional gold nanoparticles as photothermal agents for selective-killing of pathogenic bacteria.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to demonstrate that functional gold nanoparticles can be used as photothermal agents for the selective killing of pathogenic bacteria.


METHODS
Gold nanoparticles with polygonal shapes, capable of absorbing near infrared (NIR) light, were generated through a photochemical reaction. Vancomycin, which can bind with the terminal D-Ala-D-Ala moieties of the peptide units of pathogen cell walls, was immobilized on the surface of the gold nanoparticles. The vancomycin-bound gold nanoparticles were used as the photothermal agents for the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria growth, under irradiation of NIR light (808 nm).


CONCLUSIONS
We have demonstrated that vancomycin-bound gold nanoparticles are capable of selective-binding onto the cell walls of pathogenic bacteria. A large portion (>99%) of bacteria targeted by the gold nanoparticles was destroyed under illumination by NIR light within 5 min owing to suffering from heating.


CONCLUSIONS
This photothermal approach is effective for the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria cell growth, including Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Huang
Wei-Chieh
WC
National Chiao Tung University, Department of Applied Chemistry, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
Tsai
Pei-Jane
PJ
Chen
Yu-Chie
YC
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006046:Gold / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000528:radiation effects
D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D006046:Gold