An integrated study on antimicrobial activity and ecotoxicity of quantum dots and quantum dots coated with the antimicrobial peptide indolicidin.
This study attempts to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and the ecotoxicity of quantum dots (QDs) alone and coated with indolicidin. To meet this objective, we tested the level of antimicrobial activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and we designed an ecotoxicological battery of test systems and indicators able to detect different effects using a variety of end points. The antibacterial activity was analyzed against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 1025), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 10031), and the results showed an improved germicidal action of QDs-Ind. Toxicity studies on Daphnia magna indicated a decrease in toxicity for QDs-Ind compared to QDs alone, lack of bioluminescence inhibition on Vibrio fisheri, and no mutations in Salmonella typhimurium TA 100. The comet assay and oxidative stress experiments performed on D. magna showed a genotoxic and an oxidative damage with a dose-response trend. Indolicidin retained its activity when bound to QDs. We observed an enhanced activity for QDs-Ind. The presence of indolicidin on the surface of QDs was able to decrease its QDs toxicity.
Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Emilia
E
Galdiero
Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Antonietta
A
Siciliano
Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Valeria
V
Maselli
Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Renato
R
Gesuele
Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Marco
M
Guida
Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Domenico
D
Fulgione
Department of Pharmacy and Cirpeb, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Stefania
S
Galdiero
Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Lucia
L
Lombardi
Department of Pharmacy and Cirpeb, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Annarita
A
Falanga
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D020552:Comet Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009154:Mutation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014733:Vibrio / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C073143:indolicidin
antimicrobial activity; ecotoxicity; genotoxicity; oxidative stress; peptide; quantum dots