A Plasmonic Scourge for Biofilms

Infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria have emerged as a growing medical threat in recent years. And the problems of fighting such infections intensify when these hardy microbes organize themselves into biofilms—slimy aggregates that protect the bacteria from conventional attack by the body’s immune system. In particular, these nasty films can accumulate on medical devices implanted during routine surgeries, causing post-surgical complications and even death in some cases. Researchers in Spain (including scientists from ICFO–Institut de Ciències Fotòniques and ICREA–Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats in Barcelona, as well as from the firm B. Braun Surgical, and professor Romain Quidant) have now added a potential weapon to the anti-biofilm arsenal—one that would fight the films using gold nanoparticles and a dose of infrared light. While thus far their plasmonic biofilm scourge has been tested out only in the lab flask, the scientists believe it could find use in a range of in vivo settings and applications. More information at:

https://www.osa-opn.org/home/newsroom/2019/may/a_plasmonic_scourge_for_biofilms/