Aims: To phytosynthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and determine their antibacterial and antibiofilm capacity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains.
Methods and results: AgNPs were synthesized using Bothriochloa laguroides aqueous extract as reducing and stabilizing agent. After characterization, a phytochemical screening to the extract and the AgNPs was performed. Antibacterial activity, inhibition and eradication of biofilms against Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica strains were tested. Spherical AgNPs with an average size of 8 nm were obtained. Tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and saponins were identified in aqueous extract; meanwhile, only carbohydrates were identified in AgNPs. The MIC and MBC were determined at pmol L-1 levels for all tested strains. Furthermore, AgNPs inhibited more than 90% of biofilms formation and eradicated more than 80% of mature biofilms at concentrations higher than MIC.
Conclusions: The AgNPs obtained in this study inhibited planktonic and sessile growth, and eradicated mature biofilms of pathogenic bacterial strains at very low concentrations.
Significance and impact of study: The current study showed the promising potential of AgNPs as antibiofilm agents opening the way for the future development of a new class of antibacterial products.
Keywords: biofilm eradication; biofilm inhibition; phytosynthesis; silver nanoparticles.
© 2021 The Society for Applied Microbiology.