Background: The emergence of drug-resistant bacterial strains has raised the need to develop alternative treatment modalities to combat infectious diseases. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an alternative to conventional treatment modalities. aPDT integrates a photosensitizer, which, after exposure to light of an appropriate wavelength, leads to the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Methods: The aim of the present study was to synthesize a toluidine blue/multiwalled carbon nanotube conjugate (TBCNT) for enhanced photoinactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Synthesized TBCNT conjugate was characterized and its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity was determined.
Results: During TBCNT synthesis, dye loading, and entrapment efficiency of the CNT were 12.04 ± 0.55% and 48.99 ± 2.33%, respectively. The photo-destruction of planktonic cells of the test bacteria was performed by exposure to a 125 mW red laser with a wavelength of 670 nm (radiant exposure of 58.49 J/cm2) for 3 min. Photoinactivation using TBCNT resulted in a 4.91- and 5.47-log10 reduction in P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. The mechanism of this aPDT was studied by measuring intracellular ROS generation, protein leakage, and lipid peroxidation in the test bacteria after light irradiation. The antibiofilm activity of TBCNT after light exposure was 69.94% and 75.54% for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. Photoinactivation of test bacteria treated with TBCNT reduced cell viability and exopolysaccharide production. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy revealed a significant biofilm inhibition efficacy of the TBCNT conjugate.
Conclusion: Therefore, TBCNT conjugates may be used for the eradication of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus biofilms.
Keywords: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy; Planktonic cells; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Reactive oxygen species; Staphylococcus aureus; Toluidine blue multiwalled carbon nanotube.
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