Abstract
Antibiotic Microbial Resistance (AMR) is a major global challenge as it constitutes a severe threat to global public health if not addressed. To fight against AMR bacteria, new antimicrobial agents are continually needed, and their efficacy must be tested. Historically, many transition metals have been employed, but their cytotoxicity is an issue and hence must be reduced, typically by combination with organic polymers. Cellulose of natural origin, especially those derived from unavoidable residues in the food supply chain, appears to be a good capping agent for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Herein, we describe a green synthesis method to produce a novel biocomposite, using ascorbic acid as reducing agent and microfibrillated cellulose as a capping agent and demonstrate this material to be an efficient antimicrobial agent. Silver nanoparticles were obtained in the cellulose matrix with an average size of 140 nm and with antimicrobial activity against both sensitive and resistant Gram positive (using 1500 ppm) as well as sensitive and resistant Gram negative (using 125 ppm) bacteria. Also, an inverted disk-diffusion methodology was applied to overcome the low-solubility of cellulose compounds. This novel silver nanoparticle-cellulose biocomposite synthesized by a green methodology shows the potential to be applied in the future development of biomedical instruments and therapeutics.
Highlights
Antibiotic Microbial Resistance (AMR) is a major global challenge as it constitutes a severe threat to global public health if not addressed
Different types of cellulose with distinct morphological and mechanical differences are available for composites formulation, such as vegetable cellulose (VC), bacterial cellulose (BC), and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)[29]
Antimicrobial activity was assessed culturing the appropriate bacteria (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, resistant P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and resistant S. aureus) in agar mixed with the synthesized composite
Summary
Antibiotic Microbial Resistance (AMR) is a major global challenge as it constitutes a severe threat to global public health if not addressed. AgNPs biocomposite synthesized using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and microfibrillated cellulose, derived from orange peel waste, as a capping agent for the first time is here reported. Its antimicrobial activity against sensitive and resistant bacteria is explored using an inverse disk diffusion method proposed here to the use of low water solubility compounds, like cellulose compounds.
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