Light-activated quantum dot potentiation of antibiotics to treat drug-resistant bacterial biofilms.

CdTe-2.4 eV quantum dots (QDs) show excellent efficacy due to their tunability and photo-potentiation for sterilizing drug-resistant planktonic cultures without harming mammalian cells but this QD fabrication has not been tested against biofilms. While the QD attack mechanism-production of superoxide radicals-is known to stimulate biofilm formation, here we demonstrate that CdTe-2.4 eV QD-antibiotic combination therapy can nearly eradicate , methicillin-resistant , and biofilms. CdTe-2.4 eV QD versatility, safety, and ability to potentiate antibiotics makes them a potential treatment strategy for biofilm-associated infections.