Research

Jump to: Review

Open AccessArticle

Rhamnolipids Nano-Micelles as a Potential Hand Sanitizer

by

Marwa Reda Bakkar

,

Ahmed Hassan Ibrahim Faraag

,

Elham R. S. Soliman

,

Manar S. Fouda

,

Amir Mahfouz Mokhtar Sarguos

,

,

,

,

and

Antibiotics 2021, 10(7), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10070751 - 22 Jun 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3829

Abstract

COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2, which continues to cause global health and economic problems since emerging in China in late 2019. Until now, there are no standard antiviral treatments. Thus, several strategies were adopted to minimize virus transmission, such [...] Read more.

COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2, which continues to cause global health and economic problems since emerging in China in late 2019. Until now, there are no standard antiviral treatments. Thus, several strategies were adopted to minimize virus transmission, such as social distancing, face covering protection and hand hygiene. Rhamnolipids are glycolipids produced formally by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and as biosurfactants, they were shown to have broad antimicrobial activity. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of rhamnolipids against selected multidrug resistant bacteria and SARS-CoV-2. Rhamnolipids were produced by growing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain LeS3 in a new medium formulated from chicken carcass soup. The isolated rhamnolipids were characterized for their molecular composition, formulated into nano-micelles, and the antibacterial activity of the nano-micelles was demonstrated in vitro against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive drug resistant bacteria. In silico studies docking rhamnolipids to structural and non-structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 was also performed. We demonstrated the efficient and specific interaction of rhamnolipids with the active sites of these proteins. Additionally, the computational studies suggested that rhamnolipids have membrane permeability activity. Thus, the obtained results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 could be another target of rhamnolipids and could find utility in the fight against COVID-19, a future perspective to be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Open AccessArticle

The Synergistic Effect of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles and Phage ZCSE2 as a Novel Approach to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica

by

Abdallah S. Abdelsattar

,

,

,

,

and

Antibiotics 2021, 10(6), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10060678 - 05 Jun 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3541

Abstract

The emergence and evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is considered a public health concern. Salmonella is one of the most common pathogens that cause high mortality and morbidity rates in humans, animals, and poultry annually. In this work, we developed a combination of silver [...] Read more.

The emergence and evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is considered a public health concern. Salmonella is one of the most common pathogens that cause high mortality and morbidity rates in humans, animals, and poultry annually. In this work, we developed a combination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with bacteriophage (phage) as an antimicrobial agent to control microbial growth. The synthesized AgNPs with propolis were characterized by testing their color change from transparent to deep brown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The phage ZCSE2 was found to be stable when combined with AgNPs. Both minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated for AgNPs, phage, and their combination. The results indicated that MIC and MBC values were equal to 23 µg/mL against Salmonella bacteria at a concentration of 10⁷ CFU/mL. The combination of 0.4× MIC from AgNPs and phage with Multiplicity of Infection (MOI) 0.1 showed an inhibitory effect. This combination of AgNPs and phage offers a prospect of nanoparticles with significantly enhanced antibacterial properties and therapeutic performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Open AccessArticle

Targeting Internalized Staphylococcus aureus Using Vancomycin-Loaded Nanoparticles to Treat Recurrent Bloodstream Infections

by

,

,

,

and

Antibiotics 2021, 10(5), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10050581 - 14 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1866

Abstract

The bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of bloodstream infections, where patients often suffer from relapse despite antibiotic therapy. Traditional anti-staphylococcal drugs display reduced effectivity against internalised bacteria, but nanoparticles conjugated with antibiotics can overcome these challenges. In the present study, [...] Read more.

The bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of bloodstream infections, where patients often suffer from relapse despite antibiotic therapy. Traditional anti-staphylococcal drugs display reduced effectivity against internalised bacteria, but nanoparticles conjugated with antibiotics can overcome these challenges. In the present study, we aimed to characterise the internalisation and re-emergence of S. aureus from human endothelial cells and construct a new formulation of nanoparticles that target intracellular bacteria. Using an in vitro infection model, we demonstrated that S. aureus invades and persists within endothelial cells, mediated through bacterial extracellular surface adhesion, Fibronectin-binding protein A/B. After internalising, S. aureus localises to vacuoles as determined by transmission electron microscopy. Viable S. aureus emerges from endothelial cells after 48 h, supporting the notion that intracellular persistence contributes to infection relapses during bloodstream infections. Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles were formulated using a water-in-oil double emulsion method, which loaded 10% vancomycin HCl with 82.85% ± 12 encapsulation efficiency. These non-toxic nanoparticles were successfully taken up by cells and demonstrated a biphasic controlled release of 91 ± 4% vancomycin. They significantly reduced S. aureus intracellular growth within infected endothelial cells, which suggests future potential applications for targeting internalised bacteria and reducing mortality associated with bacteraemia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Open AccessArticle

Denture-Soaking Solution Containing Piper betle Extract-Loaded Polymeric Micelles; Inhibition of Candida albicans, Clinical Study, and Effects on Denture Base Resin

by

Siriporn Okonogi

,

Pimpak Phumat

,

Sakornrat Khongkhunthian

,

Kullapop Suttiat

and

Pisaisit Chaijareenont

Antibiotics 2021, 10(4), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10040440 - 15 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1796

Abstract

Candida albicans is a common overgrowth in people wearing dentures. Long-term use of antifungal chemicals carries a risk of toxic side effects. This study focused on the edible Piper betle extract because of its safety. The broth dilution method was applied for antifungal [...] Read more.

Candida albicans is a common overgrowth in people wearing dentures. Long-term use of antifungal chemicals carries a risk of toxic side effects. This study focused on the edible Piper betle extract because of its safety. The broth dilution method was applied for antifungal determination of the ethyl acetate fractionated extract (fEA) and fEA-loaded polymeric micelles (PMF). The PMF was prepared by thin-film hydration using poloxamer 407 as a polymer base. The results found that the weight ratio of fEA to polymer is the main factor to obtain PMF system as a clear solution, nanoparticle sizes, narrow size distribution, negative zeta potential, and high entrapment efficiency. The activity of PMF against C. albicans is significantly higher than fEA alone, with a minimum fungicidal concentration of 1.5 mg/mL. PMF from 1:3 ratio of fEA to polymer is used to develop a denture-soaking solution contained 1.5 mg fEA/mL (PMFS). A clinical study on dentures of 15 volunteers demonstrated an 86.1 ± 9.2% reduction of C. albicans after soaking the dentures in PMFS daily for 14 days. Interestingly, PMFS did not change the hardness and roughness of the denture base resins. The developed PMFS may serve as a potential natural denture-soaking solution against candidiasis in denture wearers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Open AccessArticle

Promising Antibiofilm Agents: Recent Breakthrough against Biofilm Producing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

by

Marwa I. Abd El-Hamid

,

El-sayed Y. El-Naenaeey

,

,

,

,

,

Muhammed A. Bakhrebah

,

Wesam H. Abdulaal

,

Nabil A. Alhakamy

and

Mahmoud M. Bendary

Antibiotics 2020, 9(10), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9100667 - 03 Oct 2020

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 3406

Abstract

Multidrug resistant (MDR) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a superbug pathogen that causes serious diseases. One of the main reasons for the lack of the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy against infections caused by this resistant pathogen is the recalcitrant nature of MRSA biofilms, [...] Read more.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a superbug pathogen that causes serious diseases. One of the main reasons for the lack of the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy against infections caused by this resistant pathogen is the recalcitrant nature of MRSA biofilms, which results in an increasingly serious situation worldwide. Consequently, the development of innovative biofilm inhibitors is urgently needed to control the biofilm formation by this pathogen. In this work, we thus sought to evaluate the biofilm inhibiting ability of some promising antibiofilm agents such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (Zno NPs), proteinase K, and hamamelitannin (HAM) in managing the MRSA biofilms. Different phenotypic and genotypic methods were used to identify the biofilm producing MDR MRSA isolates and the antibiofilm/antimicrobial activities of the used promising agents. Our study demonstrated strong antibiofilm activities of ZnO NPs, proteinase K, and HAM against MRSA biofilms along with their transcriptional modulation of biofilm (intercellular adhesion A, icaA) and quorum sensing (QS) (agr) genes. Interestingly, only ZnO NPs showed a powerful antimicrobial activity against this pathogen. Collectively, we observed overall positive correlations between the biofilm production and the antimicrobial resistance/agr genotypes II and IV. Meanwhile, there was no significant correlation between the toxin genes and the biofilm production. The ZnO NPs were recommended to be used alone as potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents against MDR MRSA and their biofilm-associated diseases. On the other hand, proteinase-K and HAM can be co-administrated with other antimicrobial agents to manage such types of infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Capacity of Chitosan Nanoparticles against Wild Type Strain of Pseudomonas sp. Isolated from Milk of Cows Diagnosed with Bovine Mastitis

by

Paula Rivera Aguayo

,

Tamara Bruna Larenas

,

Carlos Alarcón Godoy

,

Bernardita Cayupe Rivas

,

Jorge González-Casanova

,

Diana Rojas-Gómez

and

Nelson Caro Fuentes

Antibiotics 2020, 9(9), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9090551 - 28 Aug 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3829

Abstract

Bovine mastitis (BM) is the most prevalent bacterial infection in the livestock sector, affecting the dairy industry greatly. The prevention and treatment of this disease is mainly made via antibiotics, but the increasing antimicrobial resistance of pathogens has affected the efficiency of conventional [...] Read more.

Bovine mastitis (BM) is the most prevalent bacterial infection in the livestock sector, affecting the dairy industry greatly. The prevention and treatment of this disease is mainly made via antibiotics, but the increasing antimicrobial resistance of pathogens has affected the efficiency of conventional drugs. Pseudomonas sp. is one of the pathogens involved in this infection. The therapeutic rate of cure for this environmental mastitis-causing pathogen is practically zero, regardless of treatment. Biofilm formation has been one of the main virulence mechanisms of Pseudomonas hence presenting resistance to antibiotic therapy. We have manufactured chitosan nanoparticles (NQo) with tripolyphosphate (TPP) using ionotropic gelation. These NQo were confronted against a Pseudomonas sp. strain isolated from milk samples of cows diagnosed with BM, to evaluate their antimicrobial and antibiofilm capacity. The NQo showed great antibacterial effect in the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and disk diffusion assays. Using sub lethal concentrations, NQo were tested for inhibition of biofilm formation. The results show that the nanoparticles exhibited biofilm inhibition and were capable of eradicate pre-existing mature biofilm. These findings indicate that the NQo could act as a potential alternative to antibiotic treatment of BM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial Activity of Silver-Treated Bacteria against other Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens in Their Environment

by

Doaa Safwat Mohamed

,

Rehab Mahmoud Abd El-Baky

,

Tim Sandle

,

Sahar A. Mandour

and

Eman Farouk Ahmed

Antibiotics 2020, 9(4), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9040181 - 15 Apr 2020

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 8704

Abstract

Silver is a potent antimicrobial agent against a variety of microorganisms and once the element has entered the bacterial cell, it accumulates as silver nanoparticles with large surface area causing cell death. At the same time, the bacterial cell becomes a reservoir for [...] Read more.

Silver is a potent antimicrobial agent against a variety of microorganisms and once the element has entered the bacterial cell, it accumulates as silver nanoparticles with large surface area causing cell death. At the same time, the bacterial cell becomes a reservoir for silver. This study aims to test the microcidal effect of silver-killed E. coli O104: H4 and its supernatant against fresh viable cells of the same bacterium and some other species, including E. coli O157: H7, Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Silver-killed bacteria were examined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Agar well diffusion assay was used to test the antimicrobial efficacy and durability of both pellet suspension and supernatant of silver-killed E. coli O104:H4 against other bacteria. Both silver-killed bacteria and supernatant showed prolonged antimicrobial activity against the tested strains that extended to 40 days. The presence of adsorbed silver nanoparticles on the bacterial cell and inside the cells was verified by TEM. Silver-killed bacteria serve as an efficient sustained release reservoir for exporting the lethal silver cations. This promotes its use as a powerful disinfectant for polluted water and as an effective antibacterial which can be included in wound and burn dressings to overcome the problem of wound contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Open AccessArticle

Biogenic Gold Nanoparticles as Potent Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Nano-Antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

by

Syed Ghazanfar Ali

,

Mohammad Azam Ansari

,

Mohammad A. Alzohairy

,

,

,

,

,

Sarah Mousa Maadi Asiri

,

Wasim Ahmad

,

Abbas Ali Mahdi

,

Ahmed M. El-Sherbeeny

and

Mohammed A. El-Meligy

Antibiotics 2020, 9(3), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9030100 - 27 Feb 2020

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 3955

Abstract

Abstract: Plant-based synthesis of eco-friendly nanoparticles has widespread applications in many fields, including medicine. Biofilm—a shield for pathogenic microorganisms—once formed, is difficult to destroy with antibiotics, making the pathogen resistant. Here, we synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the stem of an [...] Read more.

Abstract: Plant-based synthesis of eco-friendly nanoparticles has widespread applications in many fields, including medicine. Biofilm—a shield for pathogenic microorganisms—once formed, is difficult to destroy with antibiotics, making the pathogen resistant. Here, we synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the stem of an Ayurvedic medicinal plant, Tinospora cordifolia, and studied the action of AuNPs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm. The synthesized AuNPs were characterized by techniques such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy. The AuNPs were spherically shaped with an average size of 16.1 nm. Further, the subminimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AuNPs (50, 100, and 150 µg/mL) greatly affected the biofilm-forming ability of P. aeruginosa, as observed by crystal violet assay and SEM, which showed a decrease in the number of biofilm-forming cells with increasing AuNP concentration. This was further justified by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which showed irregularities in the structure of the biofilm at the sub-MIC of AuNPs. Further, the interaction of AuNPs with PAO1 at the highest sub-MIC (150 µg/mL) showed the internalization of the nanoparticles, probably affecting the tendency of PAO1 to colonize on the surface of the nanoparticles. This study suggests that green-synthesized AuNPs can be used as effective nano-antibiotics against biofilm-related infections caused by P. aeruginosa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

Open AccessReview

Carbon Quantum Dots Derived from Different Carbon Sources for Antibacterial Applications

by

,

,

,

and

Antibiotics 2021, 10(6), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10060623 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6050

Abstract

Nanoparticles possess unique features due to their small size and can be composed of different surface chemistries. Carbon quantum dots possess several unique physico-chemical and antibacterial activities. This review provides an overview of different methods to prepare carbon quantum dots from different carbon [...] Read more.

Nanoparticles possess unique features due to their small size and can be composed of different surface chemistries. Carbon quantum dots possess several unique physico-chemical and antibacterial activities. This review provides an overview of different methods to prepare carbon quantum dots from different carbon sources in order to provide guidelines for choosing methods and carbon sources that yield carbon quantum dots with optimal antibacterial efficacy. Antibacterial activities of carbon quantum dots predominantly involve cell wall damage and disruption of the matrix of infectious biofilms through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to cause dispersal of infecting pathogens that enhance their susceptibility to antibiotics. Quaternized carbon quantum dots from organic carbon sources have been found to be equally efficacious for controlling wound infection and pneumonia in rodents as antibiotics. Carbon quantum dots derived through heating of natural carbon sources can inherit properties that resemble those of the carbon sources they are derived from. This makes antibiotics, medicinal herbs and plants or probiotic bacteria ideal sources for the synthesis of antibacterial carbon quantum dots. Importantly, carbon quantum dots have been suggested to yield a lower chance of inducing bacterial resistance than antibiotics, making carbon quantum dots attractive for large scale clinical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Open AccessReview

Nanomaterials in Wound Healing and Infection Control

by

,

,

,

and

Antibiotics 2021, 10(5), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10050473 - 21 Apr 2021

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 4247

Abstract

Wounds continue to be a serious medical concern due to their increasing incidence from injuries, surgery, burns and chronic diseases such as diabetes. Delays in the healing process are influenced by infectious microbes, especially when they are in the biofilm form, which leads [...] Read more.

Wounds continue to be a serious medical concern due to their increasing incidence from injuries, surgery, burns and chronic diseases such as diabetes. Delays in the healing process are influenced by infectious microbes, especially when they are in the biofilm form, which leads to a persistent infection. Biofilms are well known for their increased antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the development of novel wound dressing drug formulations and materials with combined antibacterial, antibiofilm and wound healing properties are required. Nanomaterials (NM) have unique properties due to their size and very large surface area that leads to a wide range of applications. Several NMs have antimicrobial activity combined with wound regeneration features thus give them promising applicability to a variety of wound types. The idea of NM-based antibiotics has been around for a decade at least and there are many recent reviews of the use of nanomaterials as antimicrobials. However, far less attention has been given to exploring if these NMs actually improve wound healing outcomes. In this review, we present an overview of different types of nanomaterials explored specifically for wound healing properties combined with infection control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Special Issue "Nanoparticles-Based Antimicrobials"

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI