title: Inhibition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on pathogenic biofilm formation and invasion to host cells.
abstract: Owing to the growing infectious diseases caused by eukaryotic and prokaryotic pathogens, it is urgent to develop novel antimicrobial agents against clinical pathogenic infections. Biofilm formation and invasion into the host cells are vital processes during pathogenic colonization and infection. In this study, we tested the inhibitory effect of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) on pathogenic growth, biofilm formation and invasion. Interestingly, although the synthesized AuNPs had no significant toxicity to the tested pathogens, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the nanoparticles strongly inhibited pathogenic biofilm formation and invasion to dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Further investigations revealed that AuNPs abundantly bound to the pathogen cells, which likely contributed to their inhibitory effect on biofilm formation and invasion. Moreover, treatment of AuNPs led to activation of immune response-related genes in DPSCs, which may enhance the activity of host immune system against the pathogens. Zeta potential analysis and polyethylene glycol (PEG)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating tests further showed that the interaction between pathogen cells and AuNPs is associated with electrostatic attractions. Our findings shed novel light on the application of nanomaterials in fighting against clinical pathogens, and imply that the traditional growth inhibition test is not the only way to evaluate the drug effect during the screening of antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Qilin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Yueqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Yufan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Mingchun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000502:physiology*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000382:microbiology*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D006046:Gold