Abstract
Biocompatible nanoparticles based on a calcium analogue of Prussian blue were designed and synthesized to take advantage of their ability to penetrate the cell membrane in Staphylococcus aureus and to undergo selective ion exchange with intracellular iron to disrupt iron metabolism in such pathogenic bacteria for antibacterial applications. KCa(H(2) O)(2) [Fe(III) (CN)(6) ]⋅H(2) O nanoparticles penetrate the bacterial cell membrane and sequester intracellular iron by ion exchange to form insoluble Prussian blue, thus inhibiting bacterial growth.