Nanotechnology and Light against Pathogens: Targeting, Labeling and Photoinactivate Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

摘要

We designed a multifunctional nanomaterial, able to target, label and photoinactivate antibiotic resistant bacteria. Highly luminescent dyes were inserted into the channels of zeolite L nanocrystals for imaging and labeling purposes. The outer surface was functionalized with a photosensitizer that forms singlet oxygen upon illumination, and finally coated with targeting moieties. The nanomaterial shows intense fluorescence, efficient ~(1)O_(2) photoproduction, and consequently targets, labels and photoinactivates antibiotic resistant bacteria. In the fight against cancers and infections deseases, phototherapeutic agents constitute a powerful armory [1-3], and recent advances in nanotechnology made multifunctional arrays with targeted cytotoxicity and labeling capabilities possible [4-6]. Materials employed must not only be robust, but also well characterized and producible at industrial scale.