New technologies that do not rely on antibiotics are urgently needed to treat bacterial infections caused by multidrug‐resistant bacteria. Herein, the feasibility of using alternating magnetic field (AMF) to selectively kill enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain K99 ( EC K99) in the presence of multianchored glycoconjugate‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles is explored. Poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(acrylic acid)‐dopamine functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (PEO‐MNPs) are synthesized and functionalized with bacteria‐specific glycoconjugate Neu5Ac(α2‐3)‐Gal‐(β1‐4)Glcβ‐sp (GM3‐MNPs) for specific adherence to EC K99. When such mixtures are exposed to an alternate magnetic field (31 kA m −1 , 207 KHz), an ≈3‐log reduction in colony forming units of EC K99 is achieved in 120 min. Moreover, in a mixed‐bacterial culture environment, targeted killing of EC K99 is achieved with minimal damage to nontargeted bacterium. Electron microscopy images along with live/dead staining assays demonstrate visible membrane damage of EC K99 cells in the presence of GM3‐MNPs and AMF. Additionally, intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels of EC K99 are significantly diminished in the presence of GM3‐MNPs and AMF. These results suggest that specific glycoconjugate‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles when mediated by AMF can be potentially used as a novel nonantibiotic treatment platform to inactivate/kill targeted bacterial pathogens, with minimal impact on normal microflora and the affected body region/tissue.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Raval et al. (2017) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: