Shock Wave-induced Cell Membrane Permeabilization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Effects of acoustic shock waves on membrane permeability of Gram-negative bacteria P. aeruginosa for an anionic photosensitizer, such as erythrosine, were studied. Shock waves were generated by rapid local medium heating due to nonradiative relaxation of high electronically excited states of photosensitizer molecules introduced with a high-power laser pulse. It has been shown that upon exposure to shock waves bacteria display an increase in membrane permeability; erythrosine enters the cells, followed by an increase in the photodynamic efficacy on microorganisms.