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Gold Nanostars Take SERS Inside the Biofilm

Steven Bell explains how – and why – he’s tracking antibiotic diffusion in living biofilms

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Biofilms pose significant challenges in antimicrobial treatment due to their protective extracellular matrix, which enables bacteria to withstand higher drug concentrations. Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast, led by Steven Bell, leveraged surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with gold nanostars to observe antibiotic diffusion in real time within Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. This innovative method revealed that antibiotic transport rates in biofilms are drastically lower than in water, providing insights into antibiotic resistance and the potential for smarter antimicrobial strategies.

Original Source(s)

Gold Nanostars Take SERS Inside the Biofilm

Steven Bell explains how – and why – he’s tracking antibiotic diffusion in living biofilms

  • by James Strachan

  • January 15, 2026

  • 5 min

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