Gold Nanostars Take SERS Inside the Biofilm
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By
January 15, 2026
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5 min
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1
Biofilms are protective matrices that enable bacteria to withstand antibiotics.
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2
SERS with gold nanostars allows real-time observation of antibiotic diffusion.
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3
Antibiotic transport rates in biofilms are lower than in water.
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4
Study focused on Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.
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5
This method may provide insights into antibiotic resistance and novel antimicrobial strategies.
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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.
-
1
Biofilms are protective matrices that enable bacteria to withstand antibiotics.
-
2
SERS with gold nanostars allows real-time observation of antibiotic diffusion.
-
3
Antibiotic transport rates in biofilms are lower than in water.
-
4
Study focused on Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.
-
5
This method may provide insights into antibiotic resistance and novel antimicrobial strategies.
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