The Use of Conjugated Gold Nanorods with Reduced Toxicity in Photothermal Therapy for MRSA

Abstract Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the deadliest pathogenic bacteria. Using photothermal therapy (PTT) to eradicate MRSA bacteria easily and effectively, it has directed this bacterium to be destroyed. Gold nanorods (AuNRs), which are nanoparticles that provide PPT, were synthesized and removed from the CTAB molecule reduce the toxic effect caused by CTAB. Subsequently, mercaptophenylboronic acid (MFBA) coated AuNRs were synthesized and used in photothermal therapy to develop a targeting agent to selectively eliminate MRSA. A decrease in cytotoxic effect of CTAB@AuNRs after conjugation with MFBA was also demonstrated by the MTS cell viability test. We found that at the end of 48 hours and 72 hours of interaction, IC 50 values of MFBA@ AuNR increased by approximately 50 % compared to CTAB@AuNR. Also, it shows that the cytotoxicity of AuNRs conjugated with MFBA was reduced. Herein, photothermal efficiency was achieved with MFBA@AuNRs targeting MRSA. The purpose of using and modifying gold nanorods is to reduce the toxicity of AuNRs and to examine their efficacy on resistant pathogenic bacteria strains by taking advantage of photothermal therapy properties.