Gold nanoparticles bearing a clinically used non-antibiotic drug for combating multi-drug resistant bacteria.

We introduce N -acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a clinically used non-antibiotic drug, to the synthesis of antibacterial gold nanoparticles (Au_NAC). Au_NAC shows excellent antibacterial activities against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria and possesses wound healing capabilities. We provide a new direction for antibiotic design and novel uses of known drugs.