Quantification of Antibiotic Diffusion in Biofilms Using Gold Nanostar Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT: The increased resistance to antibiotics shown by bacteria in biofilms is believed to be partly the result of the limited penetration of antibiotics. However, there are no well-established techniques which allow quantitative, label-free monitoring of antibiotic transport in biofilms. Here, it is shown that surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with gold nanostars (NS) can be used for the detection of levofloxacin (Levo) in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms at clinically relevant concentrations. Ex situ studies showed that although matrix interference reduced the sensitivity compared to aqueous solutions, quantitative detection remained possible. With intact biofilms, monitoring the SERS signals from layers of NS embedded at specific depths allowed the time-dependence of the penetration of

SUBMITTER: Aljuhani W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12786373 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature