Light-activated molecular machines display broad spectrum antibacterial action

<p>TEM images of <em>E. coli</em> treated with 1% DMSO or 0.5x MIC of different visible light-activated molecular machines.&nbsp;Light-activated molecular machines (MM) are synthetic molecular structures that, following light activation, undergo successive unidirectional rotation that results in a drilling-like rapid motion that can thrust the motor through biological membranes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that treatment of <em>E. coli</em> with 0.5x MIC of different&nbsp;MM (DL-654, DL-877, DL-878) followed by activation with 42.6 J cm^-2 of 405 nm light resulted in substantial changes in cell morphology including the detachment of the inner membrane from the cell wall, damage to peptidoglycan, distortion of the cell surface, and formation of outer membrane vesicles, denoting membrane and periplasmic stress, that were not evident in 1% DMSO-treated and irradiated cells.&nbsp;</p>