Non-cytotoxic nanomaterials enhance antimicrobial activities of cefmetazole against multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae

PLoS One. 2013 May 21;8(5):e64794. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064794. Print 2013.

Abstract

The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has led to difficulties in treating patients, and novel strategies to prevent and treat this infection are urgently needed. Here, we examined 21 different nanomaterials for their potential activity against N. gonorrhoeae (ATCC 49226). Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs, 120 nm) showed the greatest potency for reducing N. gonorrhoeae colony formation (MIC: 12.5 µg/ml) and possessed the dominant influence on the antibacterial activity with their properties of the nanoparticles within a concentration range that did not induce cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts or epithelial cells. Electron microscopy revealed that the Ag NPs significantly reduced bacterial cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, the use of clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae showed that combined treatment with 120 nm Ag NPs and cefmetazole produced additive effects. This is the first report to screen the effectiveness of nanomaterials against N. gonorrhoeae, and our results indicate that 120 nm Ag NPs deliver low levels of toxicity to human epithelial cells and could be used as an adjuvant with antibiotic therapy, either for topical use or as a coating for biomaterials, to prevent or treat multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cefmetazole / pharmacology*
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Ions
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Models, Biological
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / toxicity*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / drug effects*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification
  • Particle Size
  • Silver / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Ions
  • Cefmetazole
  • Silver

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Science Council (NSC101-2325-B-002-047), National Taiwan University Cutting-Edge Steering Research Project (NTU CESRP-10R71602C2 and 100R705057). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.