Magnetic-Field-Induced Improvement of Photothermal Sterilization Performance by Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA Nanochains

Due to the abuse of antibiotics, the sensitivity of patients to antibiotics is gradually reduced. This work develops a Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA nanochain which shows an interesting magnetic-field-induced improvement of its photothermal antibacterial property. First, SiO2 was wrapped on Fe3O4 nanospheres assembled in a chain to form a Fe3O4@SiO2 nanocomposite with a chain-like nanostructure. Then, the magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA nanochains were prepared using in situ redox-oxidization polymerization. Under the irradiation of an 808 nm NIR laser, the temperature rise of the Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA nanochain dispersion was obvious, indicating that they possessed a good photothermal effect. Originating from the Fe3O4, the Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA nanochain showed a typical soft magnetic behavior. Both the NIR and magnetic field affected the antimicrobial performance of the Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA nanochains. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as models to verify the antibacterial properties. The experimental results showed that the Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA nanochains exhibited good antibacterial properties under photothermal conditions. After applying a magnetic field, the bactericidal effect was further significantly enhanced. The above results show that the material has a broad application prospect in inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Automated summary

In this study, a Fe3O4@SiO2@Au/PDA nanochain was developed, which showed an interesting magnetic-field-induced improvement of its photothermal antibacterial property. The experimental results demonstrated that the material exhibited good antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under photothermal conditions, and the bactericidal effect was further significantly enhanced after applying a magnetic field.