Metal nanoparticles assisted revival of Streptomycin against MDRS Staphylococcus aureus

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 24;17(3):e0264588. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264588. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The ability of microorganisms to generate resistance outcompetes with the generation of new and efficient antibiotics. Therefore, it is critically required to develop novel antibiotic agents and treatments to control bacterial infections. Green synthesized metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles are considered as the potential means to target bacteria as an alternative to antibiotics. Nanoconjugates have also attracted attention because of their increased biological activity as compared to free antibiotics. In the present investigation, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NPs) have been synthesized by using leaf extract of Ricinus communis. Characterization of nanoparticles was done by using UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analyzer, X-ray Diffraction Analysis, and Dynamic Light Scattering Particle Size Analyzer. Interestingly, Streptomycin when combined with AgNPs, ZnO NPs, CuO NPs, and FeO NPs showed enhanced antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of S. aureus which suggested synergism between the nanoparticles and antibiotics. The highest enhanced antibacterial potential of Streptomycin was observed in conjugation with ZnO NPs (11 ± 0.5 mm) against S. aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentration of conjugates of AgNPs, ZnO NPs, CuO NPs, and FeO NPs with streptomycin against S. aureus was found to be 3.12, 2.5,10, and 12.5 μg/mL respectively. The considerable point of the present investigation is that S. aureus, which was resistant to streptomycin becomes highly susceptible to the same antibiotic when combined with nanoparticles. This particular observation opens up windows to mitigate the current crisis due to antibiotic resistance to combat antimicrobial infections efficiently.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Silver / pharmacology
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptomycin / pharmacology
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Zinc Oxide* / chemistry
  • Zinc Oxide* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Silver
  • Zinc Oxide
  • Streptomycin

Grants and funding

Mansour K. Gatasheh and Bander M. AL-Munqedhi received funding in the form of salary from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The source of funding was Project Number (RSP-2021/393), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. SEM and particle size analyzer facilities were used from Centre for Advance Studies in Physics (CASP) Govt. College University, (GCU) Lahore, Pakistan. Funders were involved in software bases statistical analysis along with the manuscript writing and its proof reading. The funders had no additional role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding was received for this study.