Impacts of iron oxide nanoparticles on the invasion power of Listeria monocytogenes

Recently, magnetic nanoparticles have been introduced as a novel antimicrobial material. Listeria monocytogenes are the causative agent of listeriosis and stands among the major public health issues. This bacterium can attach to the host cell membrane and trigger molecular responses leading to phagocytosis of the bacterial cell. In the present study, the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) on the invasion power of L. monocytogenes was investigated. IONs were synthesized by coprecipitation method and coated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Listeria monocytogenes cells were exposed to the prepared particles and interactions between IONs and bacterial cells were visualized by scanning electron microscopy. Invasion power of listerial cells for penetration HepG-2 cells monolayer was also examined in various concentrations of IONs. IONs have reduced invasion power of L. monocytogenes in a concentration-dependent manner. Almost 4-fold reduction in the invasion power of L. monocytogenes was observed at 20 μg ml-1 IONs concentration.