Shock Wave-Induced Permeabilization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cell Membranes

The effect of acoustic shock waves on the permeability of membranes of Gram-negative bacteria of P. aeruginosa for the anionic photosensitizer erythrosine has been studied. Shock waves were generated by rapid local heating of the medium, which occurred during the nonradiative relaxation of high electronically excited states of photosensitizer molecules populated by a high-power density laser pulse. It has been shown that the permeability of bacterial membranes increased under the effect of shock waves and erythrosine penetrated into the cells; this was accompanied by an increase in the efficiency of photodynamic action on microorganisms.