Streptomycin functionalization on silver nanoparticles for improved antibacterial activity

Abstract

The global health care system is facing a major threat due to the increase in the antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial representatives to overcome the incompetence of the conventional antibiotics. In this study, we report the green synthesis of a range of silver (Ag) nanoparticles engaging tyrosine, tryptophan, curcumin or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Further, the Ag nanoparticles were surface functionalized by streptomycin to develop an efficient biomolecular surface corona and to enhance antibacterial competency of all these Ag nanoparticles. The antibacterial potentials of as-synthesized Ag nanoparticles and post-functionalized Ag nanoparticles were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains as proof of concept. The results signpost that the bacterial viability for both the Gram-strains decreased after treatment with streptomycin functionalized Ag nanoparticles compare to as-synthesized Ag nanoparticles. The enhanced antibacterial potential of the streptomycin functionalized Ag nanoparticles and conjugation of inorganic (Ag)/organic (streptomycin and tyrosine, tryptophan, curcumin or EGCG) materials in a single system may open new opportunities even to overcome antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the study highlights that the surface functionalization approach can be extended to other metal nanoparticles and different antibiotics to combat bacterial drug resistance.