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A Simple Method for the Size Controlled Synthesis of Stable Oligomeric Clusters of Gold Nanoparticles under Ambient Conditions
Published on: February 5, 2016
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Reversing Bacterial Resistance to Gold Nanoparticles by Size Modulation
Wenshu Zheng1, Yuexiao Jia1, Yuyun Zhao1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088, Xueyuan Road, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China.
Nano Letters
|February 22, 2021
Summary
Gold nanoparticles capped with 4,6-diamino-2-pyrimidine thiol (AuDAPTs) showed slow bacterial resistance development in E. coli. Nanoparticle size tuning restored antibacterial activity, offering a novel approach against superbugs.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Materials Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge in developing new treatments for bacterial infections.
- While numerous bactericidal nanomaterials exist, research into their induced bacterial resistance is limited.
- Superbugs pose a growing threat, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the development of bacterial resistance to 4,6-diamino-2-pyrimidine thiol (DAPT)-capped gold nanoparticles (AuDAPTs).
- To explore methods for overcoming any induced resistance to AuDAPTs.
- To assess the potential of AuDAPTs as a therapeutic agent against multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of E. coli to AuDAPTs over an extended period (183 days) to monitor resistance development.
- Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to quantify resistance.
- Modification of AuDAPT size to assess its impact on antibacterial activity against resistant strains.
Main Results:
- A 16-fold increase in E. coli's MIC to AuDAPTs was observed only after 183 days of exposure.
- No cross-resistance to commercial antibiotics was developed by the resistant E. coli strain.
- Altering the size of AuDAPTs successfully restored bactericidal activity against the resistant E. coli.
Conclusions:
- AuDAPTs induce slow and manageable bacterial resistance, distinct from traditional antibiotics and other nanomaterials.
- Bacterial resistance to AuDAPTs can be overcome by adjusting nanoparticle size, without new chemical agents.
- This study presents a promising strategy for developing gold nanomaterial-based therapeutics against MDR bacterial infections.
