Effects of a hemostatic preparation based on silver polyacrylate on the morphological features and energy status of bacteria

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This study evaluates the effect of the hemostatic surgical preparation, containing a 1% aqueous solution of partial silver salt of polyacrylic acid with silver nanoparticles, on the morphological features, viability, and energy status of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Atomic force microscopy and bioluminescent determination of bacterial adenosine triphosphate were used to assess the morphological and functional reactions of bacterial cells. Exposure to the preparation was found to cause diverse reactions in different bacteria. Gram-positive cocci increased their volume, decreasing their relative surface area, thereby reducing their contact with the preparation. These changes can be considered one of the adaptive mechanisms of staphylococci to the toxic compound. Gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli) also changed their sizes in response to hemostatic preparation, but both exhibited an increase in relative surface area and cell surface roughness, which may indicate depletion of their adaptive potential. Bacterial survival and intracellular adenosine triphosphate levels in cells exposed to hemostatic preparation showed that most staphylococci became non-viable, while the effect of the preparation was concentration-dependent. Exposure of Pseudomonas to the undiluted preparation resulted in their death, while a similar effect was observed for E. coli at a 10% concentration. The assessment of the viability and energy status of the studied strains confirmed the hypothesis of greater tolerance of staphylococci to hemostatic preparation, as they remained viable even after exposure to the undiluted preparation. The addition of the hemostatic preparation to a Pseudomonas suspension led to their death, whereas a similar effect was observed for E. coli even with the diluted preparation. Overall, the morphological changes in the bacterial cell wall and a decrease in their adenosine triphosphate content after exposure to the preparation demonstrate its antibacterial effect against certain types of clinically significant microorganisms.