Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles with Ultrasound-Assisted Reverse Micelles Method and Their Antibacterial Effects on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

Abstract

Background: Serious infections are associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria and this can lead to many deaths in the world. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against MRSA isolates from clinical samples. Methods: Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasound-assisted reverse micelles method. The as-prepared Ag nanoparticles were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial effect of AgNPs was investigated using agar well diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. Results: The XRD studies showed that pure Ag nanoparticles have been produced after calcination. Synthesized AgNPs showed favorable effects on the bacteria used. MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined to be 0.015 and 0.07 mg/mL, respectively. All MRSA isolates were susceptible to AgNPs. In contrast, they showed high resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. Conclusions: AgNPs had high inhibitory activity against MRSA; therefore, they can be proposed as an alternative or adjuvant to antibiotics for the treatment of MRSA infections. Further investigations are required to assess the safety and efficacy of AgNPs in the body.