Pathogenic microbes are immensely infectious often exhibiting excellent adaptation to the disinfection strategies by altering their own biochemical processes. The magnificent inception of antibiotic resistant superbugs suggest emergence for alternative solutions. Nanomaterials with triggered antimicrobial properties initiated by external stimuli appear to be a promising and innovative substitute as this induces multiple disruption in cellular mechanism suggesting lesser chance of resistance generation. The present study demonstrates use of Squaraine (SQ) as the photosensitive material, activated in the near infra-red tissue transparent therapeutic window. SQ is covalently attached to ZnO NPs surface which is confirmed using FTIR and other optical spectroscopic methods. The photo-induced electron transfer process from excited state of SQ to conduction band of ZnO is responsible for greater ROS generation ability of the nanohybrid. The production of photo-activated ROS (especially singlet oxygen species) by ZnO-SQ provides remarkable antimicrobial action against clinically significant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. Detailed investigations suggest synergistic involvement of cell-membrane disruption, nanoparticle internalization followed by photo-induced intracellular ROS generation impart the unprecedented 95% bacterial killing activity by ZnO-SQ. Moreover, the efficacy of the nanohybrid for disruption of bacterial biofilms has been examined. Nano-dimension driven greater internalization of ZnO-SQ followed by improved dissolution of ZnO in acidic environment of the biofilm improves the efficacy of the material for biofilm destruction. The artificial medical implant mimic titanium sheets coated with ZnO-SQ depict light triggered disruption in adherence property of matured biofilms. The hemolysis assay using human RBCs show inherent biocompatibility of the photoactive nanoantibiotic. Our studies are expected to find relevance to treat life-threatening drug-resistance infections and eradication of biofilm formed within artificial implants.<br/>

Light activated nano-antibiotic for biofilm treatment

256th National Meeting (2018)

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