Antibody-quantum dot conjugates exhibit enhanced antibacterial effectvs. unconjugated quantum dots

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Abstract
The effect of a 20-min exposure to antibody-quantum dot (Ab-QD) conjugates on colony counts ofEscherichia coli was assessed by the spread-plate method and compared with exposure to unconjugated QDs having only amine or carboxyl groups on their surfaces. Under these conditions, Ab-QD conjugates generally exhibited >90% reduction in colony-forming units as compared to untreatedE. coli andE. coli treated with unconjugated QDs after incubation for as long as 41 h. The antibacterial effect of Ab-QD conjugatesvs. unconjugated QDs onSalmonella enterica subsp.enterica serovar Typhimurium was also assessed by means of a disk-diffusion technique which demonstrated greater growth inhibition (≈3 mm greater) by Ab-QD conjugate-impregnated disks than by unconjugated-QD-only-impregnated disks at a 10-µg disk load. At a 25-µg disk load, both treatment groups exhibited nearly equal growth inhibition.