Nanoscale zeolitic imidazolate framework–8 encapsulates crude extract of Ajuga bracteosa wall ex. Benth and enhanced their antibacterial efficiency

Abstract

Certain disease-causing bacterial strains invade the body; they multiply and cause disease. The development of nanoparticles and self-assembled nanomaterial-based therapeutics has developed into a flourishing section in nanomedicine. Zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) comprises zinc ions and 2-methylimidazole showing good biocompatibility, known for their large porosity with high surface area, tunable shapes, large pore sizes, and controllable surface functionality. We report a ZIF-8 based agent with excellent antibacterial effectiveness against gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria by agar diffusion method. We are the first to encapsulate Ajuga bracteosa extract (ABE) into the ZIF-8 framework, forming a nanoconjugate (ABE@ZIF-8). The mechanism by which the synthesized ABE@ZIF-8 NPs are inhibiting bacterial growth is likely to be the adsorbance of ABE@ZIF-8 NPs on the bacterial cell membrane because of the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ABE@ZIF-8 NPs and the negatively charged bacterial cell membrane. UV–vis absorption spectra, PXRD, SEM, TEM, BET, TGA, DLS, zeta potential characterized ABE@ZIF-8 NPs. Zone of inhibition (ZOI) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ABE@ZIF-8 NPs are studied against the Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to gentamicin, ZIF-8, ABE, and methanol. The results reported ABE@ZIF-8 nanoconjugate has better antibacterial efficiency against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.