Enhanced delivery of gentamicin to infection foci due to Staphylococcus aureus using gold nanorods

Abstract

Bacterial infections continue to be one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Although many methods for diagnosing and treating of infectious diseases currently exist, there is an urgent need for new and improved approaches for bacterial destruction. The present study focuses on the conjugation of gold nanorods (GNRs) with gentamicin via the Nanothink acid linker and its application in delivery of gentamicin to infection foci due to Staphylococcus aureus. The interaction between gentamicin and gold nanorods was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and atomic absorption spectroscopy analyses showed that 2050 gentamicin molecules were attached to each gold nanorod. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of gentamicin–GNRs conjugate showed the enhancement of antibacterial effect of gentamicin. The biodistribution study demonstrated localization of the complex at the site of Staphylococcal infection with high sensitivity in mouse model.

• Antibacterial activity
• drug delivery system
• gentamicin
• gold nanorods
• infection foci
• Staphylococcus auerus

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Notice of correction

In the version of this article, published on 24 April 2014, there was an error in Table 2. This has now been corrected in this version.