1. Pathogenic E. faecalis bacteria were used to demonstrate the photothermal impact of our model catheter surfaces modified with AuNSs upon exposure to a NIR laser.
2. E. faecalis are Gram-positive cocci that typically grow into structures that consist of dimers or oligomers arranged in short chains.
3. The cell wall of E. faecalis is comprised of three main components:peptidoglycan, teichoic acid, and polysaccharides.
4. E. faecalis show an overall negative charge due to the presence of phosphodiester bonds between teichoic acid monomers.
5. With the negative charge on their cell walls, E. faecalis might prefer to
adhere on positively charged surfaces.
6. Note, however, that the carboxylic acid-functionalized AuNSs used for modifying the
PAMAM-coated surface possess a negative surface charge.