title: Functional gold nanoparticles as potent antimicrobial agents against multi-drug-resistant bacteria.
abstract: We present the use of functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to combat multi-drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Tuning of the functional groups on the nanoparticle surface provided gold nanoparticles that were effective against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive uropathogens, including multi-drug-resistant pathogens. These AuNPs exhibited low toxicity to mammalian cells, and bacterial resistance was not observed after 20 generations. A strong structure-activity relationship was observed as a function of AuNP functionality, providing guidance to activity prediction and rational design of effective antimicrobial nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Biology Department, University of Massachusetts , 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst 01003, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Krishnendu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Ziwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Moyano
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahar
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rotello
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006046:Gold
keywords: MDR E. coli; MRSA; antimicrobial agents; gold nanoparticles; mode of action; structure−activity relationship; uropathogens