Abstract
Nano-particles have been combined with antibiotics in recent studies to overcome multidrug-resistant bacteria. Here, we synthesized a nano-material in which Ag nano-particles were assembled with a ZnO nano-structure to form an Ag-ZnO (AZO) nano-composite at low temperature. This material was combined with erythromycin (Ery), an antibiotic effective towards gram-positive bacteria, using three different approaches (AZO + Ery (AZE) [centrifuged (AZE1), used separately after 1-h gap (AZE2), without centrifugation (AZE3)]) to prepare a nano-antibiotic against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of Ag nano-particles and ZnO nano-structure. The elemental and chemical state of the elements present in the AZO nano-composite were assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of AZE samples against both Escherichia coli and S. aureus strains including MRSA was evaluated in antibacterial and morphological analyses. The AZE3 sample showed greater antibacterial activity than the other samples and was comparable to erythromycin. AZE3 was ~20-fold less prone to developing bacterial resistance following multiple exposures to bacteria compared to erythromycin alone. The AZE3 nano-composite showed good biocompatibility with 293 human embryonic kidney cells. Our newly synthesized nano-platform antibiotics may be useful against multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria.
Highlights
In recent years, the term multidrug-resistant (MDR) has become synonymous with bacterial infections, which have shown increased resistance to available antibiotics, requiring immediate attention [1]
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks of the as-synthesized ZO and AZO observed at 31.71◦, 34.38◦, 36.23◦, 47.50◦, 56.55◦, 62.86◦, 67.93◦, 68.99◦, and 76.97◦ were indexed to the diffraction planes (100), (002), (101), (102), (110), (103), (112), (201), and (202), respectively, which were consistent with hexagonal ZO (JCPDS 36-1451) [18]
We synthesized a ZnO nano-structure which was assembled with against ZnO. Silver nano-particles (Ag NPs) to prepare an Ag-ZO (AZO) nano-composite in a low-temperature solution synthesis process
Summary
The term multidrug-resistant (MDR) has become synonymous with bacterial infections, which have shown increased resistance to available antibiotics, requiring immediate attention [1]. The real threat of the MDR can be realized by estimating that MDR could cause 10 million annual deaths by 2050, surpassing cancer [1]. This threat might be exacerbated through the heavy use of antibiotics in the developing COVID-19 pandemic to keep patients away from secondary bacterial infections. Researchers have attempted to identify new classes of antibiotics, chemically modify existing drugs, and use alternatives to current antibiotics, and other methods. Nano-materials have emerged as promising alternatives to current antibiotics to treat infections caused by MDR pathogens. Nano-materials can exhibit antibacterial activity either alone [3] or in combination with conventional antibiotics to enhance their efficiency [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
