Impact of gold nanoparticles combined to X-ray irradiation on bacteria

Abstract

Recent increase of multi drug-resistant bacteria represents a crucial issue of public health. As novative approaches are required to face that problem, those emerging from nanotechnology are of great interest. In that context we propose the possibility to use gold nanoparticles combined with ionising radiation to destroy pathogenic bacteria. For that, we investigated the potential X-Rays enhanced reduction of bacterial cell viability, following nanoparticle exposure, on a bacterial model, Escherichia coli. Our first concern was to confirm the absence of toxicity of the colloidal solution used. Then, we developed an X-Ray irradiation system and showed that gold nanoparticles increased the efficiency of ionising radiation to induce bacteria cell death.