Enhanced delivery of gentamicin to infection foci due to Staphylococcus aureus using gold nanorods

Bacterial infections continue to be one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Although many methods for diagnosing and treating of infectious diseases currently exist, there is an urgent need for new and improved approaches for bacterial destruction. The present study focuses on the conjugation of gold nanorods (GNRs) with gentamicin via the Nanothink acid linker and its application in delivery of gentamicin to infection foci due to Staphylococcus aureus. The interaction between gentamicin and gold nanorods was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and atomic absorption spectroscopy analyses showed that 2050 gentamicin molecules were attached to each gold nanorod. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of gentamicin-GNRs conjugate showed the enhancement of antibacterial effect of gentamicin. The biodistribution study demonstrated localization of the complex at the site of Staphylococcal infection with high sensitivity in mouse model.