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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Remote Magnetic Actuation of Micrometric Probes for in situ 3D Mapping of Bacterial Biofilm Physical Properties
Published on: May 2, 2014
Artificial Channels in an Infectious Biofilm Created by Magnetic Nanoparticles Enhanced Bacterial Killing by
Kecheng Quan1,2, Zexin Zhang1, Hong Chen1
1College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The poor penetrability of many biofilms contributes to the recalcitrance of infectious biofilms to antimicrobial treatment. Here, a new application for the use of magnetic nanoparticles in nanomedicine to create artificial channels in infectious biofilms to enhance antimicrobial penetration and bacterial killing is proposed. Staphylococcus aureus biofilms are exposed to magnetic-iron-oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs), while magnetically forcing MIONP movement through the biofilm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrates artificial channel digging perpendicular to the substratum surface. Artificial channel digging significantly (4-6-fold) enhances biofilm penetration and bacterial killing efficacy by gentamicin in two S. aureus strains with and without the ability to produce extracellular polymeric substances. Herewith, this work provides a simple, new, and easy way to enhance the eradication of infectious biofilms using MIONPs combined with clinically applied antibiotic therapies.
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