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Investigating the Effects of Laser-Irradiated Gold Nanoparticles on the Viability of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Jones, Jordan Lee
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1745526144073767

Abstract Details

2025, Master of Science in Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry.
Staphylococcus aureus is recognized as an opportunistic pathogen that causes a wide range of infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) refers to strains that are resistant to the β-lactam class of antibiotics. Several MRSA strains are multidrug resistant, making treatment of these infections problematic. Further, infections involving biofilm formation are particularly challenging to treat, as biofilms protect bacterial cells from antibiotic penetration. The present investigation examined the effects of laser-irradiated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on the viability of twelve S. aureus strains. Planktonic cell suspensions containing approximately 20,236 Fe3O4GNPs or 19,784 SGNPs per cell were subjected to 10 minutes of laser exposure and exhibited an average reduction in viability of 89.1% and 78.9%, respectively. Suspensions subjected to laser irradiation alone or nanoparticle exposure alone exhibited little to no reduction in viability. Similarly, S. aureus biofilms were treated with laser-irradiation alone, GNPs alone, or a combination of both treatments. Upon combination treatment, seven of the twelve strains responded positively to treatment, exhibiting an average reduction in biofilm viability of 90%. In contrast, five strains exhibited little to no response to treatment, demonstrating a reduction in viability at or below 25%. Biofilms exposed to one treatment condition alone exhibited little to no reduction in viability. These results suggests that laser-irradiated GNPs may present a promising alternative treatment approach for S. aureus infections, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains.
Chester Cooper, PhD (Advisor)
David Asch, PhD (Committee Member)
Jonathan Caguiat, PhD (Committee Member)
83 p.
Biology; Biophysics; Microbiology; Nanoscience
methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus; antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic resistance; antibiotic photothermal therapy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jones, J. L. (2025). Investigating the Effects of Laser-Irradiated Gold Nanoparticles on the Viability of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus [Master's thesis, Youngstown State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1745526144073767

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jones, Jordan. Investigating the Effects of Laser-Irradiated Gold Nanoparticles on the Viability of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. 2025. Youngstown State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1745526144073767.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jones, Jordan. "Investigating the Effects of Laser-Irradiated Gold Nanoparticles on the Viability of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus." Master's thesis, Youngstown State University, 2025. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1745526144073767

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ysu1745526144073767
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© 2025, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Youngstown State University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12