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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2011
Bacterial infection of bone (called osteomyelitis) is of great concern to the medical community. In addition to bone, numerous medical devices are susceptible to microbial colonization when implanted. These infections are chronic since bacteria form a robust adhesion to surfaces, can be protected by sticky slime matrix (called a biofilm) from the body’s immune system (which would otherwise naturally clear the bacteria), and antibiotic treatments may not resolve such infections (due to antibiotic resistance). Here, the multifunctional properties of magnetic nanoparticles (termed here superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, or SPION) will be explored for their antibacterial activity, magnetic properties, and drug deliverable properties. This study provides a first step towards the development of a new type of pharmaceutical useful for orthopedic or other device related infections by demonstrating physical (magnetic) control of antibiotics towards bacteria and biofilms.