A 980 nm driven photothermal ablation of virulent and antibiotic resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains using Prussian blue nanoparticles

• PVP-coated Prussian blue nanoparticles are used as a photothermal agent.
• The nanoparticles are not cytotoxic to cells under NIR irradiation.
• The nanoparticles are highly efficient for bacteria eradication.

A 980 nm laser-driven antimicrobial photothermal therapy using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) -coated Prussian Blue nanoparticles (PVP/PB NPs) is demonstrated. This approach allows an efficient eradication of a virulent strain of Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) associated with urinary tract infection as well as for the ablation of antibiotic resistant pathogens such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli. Interestingly the 980 nm irradiation exhibits minimal effect on mammalian cells up to a PVP/PB NPs concentration of 50 μg mL−1, while at this concentration bacteria are completely eradicated. This feature is certainly very promising for the selective targeting of bacteria over mammalian cells.

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