Laser-ablated gold nanoparticles: a novel approach to antimicrobial artificial eyes

Patients with artificial eyes often suffer from severe, persistent microbial infections, particularly due to antibiotic-resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Nowadays, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit strong antimicrobial properties, offering a promising solution to this challenge. In this study, laser ablation was employed to create AuNPs, which were added into artificial eye materials during fabrication. The antimicrobial efficacy of laser-ablated AuNPs against resistant bacteria was systematically evaluated using multiple microbiological assays. A colony forming unit and growth kinetic analysis were determined using an ANOVA test. Moreover, Logistic and Gompertz models were performed to visualize the MRSA growth kinetic rate. Our findings show that AuNPs significantly reduce bacterial growth, suggesting their potential as an effective antimicrobial component in ocular prostheses. Theoretically, the Gompertz model was the best-fit model for experimental kinetic data. We have produced a foundational framework for integrating AuNPs into artificial eyes to combat infections, paving the way for the development of novel antimicrobial ocular prostheses.