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Metal Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Antibacterial Agents

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 7776

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia Têxtil, Universidade do Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: gel electrolytes; nanomaterials; functional textiles; medicinal chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to submit your work to a Special Issue of Molecules titled “Metal Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Antibacterial Agents”.

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles play an outstanding role in important areas such as biomedicine (e.g., therapy, diagnostics and drug delivery) and high-performance materials (e.g., antimicrobials, catalysts or sensing). In particular, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are known as excellent antibacterial agents able to fight against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains and biofilms. Their multiple mechanisms of action also decrease the development of adaptive resistance of bacteria.

Despite the unique properties of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, concerns about their toxicity to humans and the environment have been broadly reported. A new generation of antimicrobial agents based on metal and metal oxide nanoparticles built on the safe-by-design concept is compulsory to assess the risks. Thus, the main objective of this Special Issue is to highlight research works focused on the development of eco-friendly metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, which also present high antibacterial efficacy and no cytotoxicity to living organisms. To this end, several strategies can be used—namely, the biosynthesis of nanoparticles promoting different sizes, shapes and surface charges of nanoparticles; the functionalization and conjugation of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles with other molecules; and the development of composites with proper drug-release profiles.

Dr. Ana Isabel Ribeiro
Dr. Andrea Zille
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanomedicine
  • green synthesis
  • composites
  • nanomaterials
  • antimicrobials
  • functionalization
  • combinatorial therapy

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 8036 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Doped Nanocatalysts with Antibacterial Capabilities Using a Complementary Green Method
by Anshul Singh, Ranjana Choudhary Ahirwar, Kavindra Borgaonkar, Neeta Gupta, Muhammad Ahsan, Jyoti Rathore, P. Das, S. Ganguly and Reena Rawat
Molecules 2023, 28(10), 4182; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28104182 - 19 May 2023
Viewed by 1309
Abstract
A facile single-step wet chemical synthesis of a transition-metal-doped molybdate derivative was achieved via an Ocimum tenuiflorum extract-mediated green approach. The Synthesized nanomaterials of doped molybdate were characterized by optical and other spectroscopic techniques, which confirmed the size of nanocrystalline (~27.3 nm). The [...] Read more.
A facile single-step wet chemical synthesis of a transition-metal-doped molybdate derivative was achieved via an Ocimum tenuiflorum extract-mediated green approach. The Synthesized nanomaterials of doped molybdate were characterized by optical and other spectroscopic techniques, which confirmed the size of nanocrystalline (~27.3 nm). The thermal stability of the nanomaterials confirmed through thermogravimetric analysis showed similarity with nanomaterials of Mn-ZnMoO4. Moreover, the nanoparticles displayed a non-toxic nature and showed antibactericidal activity. The impact of doping was reflected in band gap measurements; undoped ZnMoO4 showed relatively lower band gap in comparison to Mn-doped ZnMoO4. In the presence of light, ZnMoO4 nanomaterials a exhibited photocatalytic response to solochrome dark blue dye with a concentration of 50 ppm. OH and O2* radicals also destroyed the blue color of the dye within 2 min and showed potential antibactericidal activity towards both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, representing a unique application of the green-synthesized nanocatalyst. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Antibacterial Agents)
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23 pages, 14591 KiB  
Article
Biosynthesis and Mathematical Interpretation of Zero-Valent Iron NPs Using Nigella sativa Seed Tincture for Indemnification of Carcinogenic Metals Present in Industrial Effluents
by Muhammad Naveed, Syeda Izma Makhdoom, Shafiq ur Rehman, Tariq Aziz, Farzana Bashir, Urooj Ali, Metab Alharbi, Abdulrahman Alshammari and Abdullah F. Alasmari
Molecules 2023, 28(8), 3299; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28083299 - 07 Apr 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1757
Abstract
Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVI-NPs) are utilized for the indemnification of a wide range of environmental pollutants. Among the pollutants, heavy metal contamination is the major environmental concern due to their increasing prevalence and durability. In this study, heavy metal remediation capabilities are determined [...] Read more.
Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVI-NPs) are utilized for the indemnification of a wide range of environmental pollutants. Among the pollutants, heavy metal contamination is the major environmental concern due to their increasing prevalence and durability. In this study, heavy metal remediation capabilities are determined by the green synthesis of ZVI-NPs using aqueous seed extract of Nigella sativa which is a convenient, environmentally friendly, efficient, and cost-effective technique. The seed extract of Nigella sativa was utilized as a capping and reducing agent for the generation of ZVI-NPs. UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate the ZVI-NP composition, shape, elemental constitution, and perspective functional groups, respectively. The biosynthesized ZVI-NPs displayed a peak of plasmon resonance spectra at 340 nm. The synthesized NPs were cylindrical in shape, with a size of 2 nm and (-OH) hydroxyl, (C-H) alkanes and alkynes N-C, N=C, C-O, =CH functional groups attached to the surface of ZVI-NPs. Heavy metals were successfully remediated from industrial wastewater collected from the various tanneries of Kasur. During the reaction duration of 24 h, different concentrations of ZVI-NPs (10 μg, 20 μg and 30 μg) per 100 mL were utilized for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. The 30 μg/100 mL of ZVI-NPs proved the pre-eminent concentration of NPs as it removed >90% of heavy metals. The synthesized ZVI-NPs were analyzed for compatibility with the biological system resulting in 87.7% free radical scavenging, 96.16% inhibition of protein denaturation, 60.29% and 46.13% anti-cancerism against U87-MG and HEK 293 cell lines, respectively. The physiochemical and exposure mathematical models of ZVI-NPs represented them as stable and ecofriendly NPs. It proved that biologically synthesized NPs from a seed tincture of Nigella sativa have a strong potential to indemnify heavy metals found in industrial effluent samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Antibacterial Agents)
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19 pages, 6408 KiB  
Article
Molecular Dynamic Analysis of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumonia’s Porin Proteins with Beta Lactam Antibiotics and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
by Rasha Elsayim, Abeer S. Aloufi, Yosra Modafer, Wafa Ali Eltayb, Alaa Alnoor Alameen and Samah Awad Abdurahim
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2510; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062510 - 09 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1490
Abstract
To prevent the rapidly increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance, it is crucial to discover new antibacterial agents. The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae has been associated with a higher mortality rate in gulf union countries and worldwide. Compared to physical and [...] Read more.
To prevent the rapidly increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance, it is crucial to discover new antibacterial agents. The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae has been associated with a higher mortality rate in gulf union countries and worldwide. Compared to physical and chemical approaches, green zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NP) synthesis is thought to be significantly safer and more ecofriendly. The present study used molecular dynamics (MD) to examine how ZnO-NPs interact with porin protein (GLO21), a target of β-lactam antibiotics, and then tested this interaction in vitro by determining the zone of inhibition (IZ), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), as well as the alteration of KPC’s cell surface. The nanoparticles produced were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, zetasizer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In silico investigation was conducted using a variety of computational techniques, including Autodock Vina for protein and ligand docking and Desmond for MD simulation. The candidate ligands that interact with the GLO21 protein were biosynthesized ZnO-NPs, meropenem, imipenem, and cefepime. Analysis of MD revealed that the ZnO-NPs had the highest log P value (−9.1 kcal/mol), which indicates higher permeability through the bacterial surface, followed by cefepime (−7.9 kcal/mol), meropenem (−7.5 kcal/mol), and imipenem (−6.4 kcal/mol). All tested compounds and ZnO-NPs possess similar binding sites of porin proteins. An MD simulation study showed a stable system for ZnO-NPs and cefepime, as confirmed by RMSD and RMSF values during 100 ns trajectories. The test compounds were further inspected for their intersection with porin in terms of hydrophobic, hydrogen, and ionic levels. In addition, the stability of these bonds were measured by observing the protein–ligand contact within 100 ns trajectories. ZnO-NPs showed promising results for fighting KPC, represented in MIC (0.2 mg/mL), MBC (0.5 mg/mL), and ZI (24 mm diameter). To draw the conclusion that ZnO-NP is a potent antibacterial agent and in order to identify potent antibacterial drugs that do not harm human cells, further in vivo studies are required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Antibacterial Agents)
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22 pages, 4554 KiB  
Article
Phytomediated Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) Embellish Antioxidant Defense System, Ameliorating HLB-Diseased ‘Kinnow’ Mandarin Plants
by Muhammad Umair Raza, Fozia Abasi, Muhammad Shahbaz, Maria Ehsan, Wajiha Seerat, Abida Akram, Naveed Iqbal Raja, Zia ur-Rehman Mashwani, Hammad Ul Hassan and Jarosław Proćków
Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2044; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052044 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2602
Abstract
Citrus production is harmed worldwide by yellow dragon disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening. As a result, it has negative effects and a significant impact on the agro-industrial sector. There is still no viable biocompatible treatment for Huanglongbing, despite enormous [...] Read more.
Citrus production is harmed worldwide by yellow dragon disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening. As a result, it has negative effects and a significant impact on the agro-industrial sector. There is still no viable biocompatible treatment for Huanglongbing, despite enormous efforts to combat this disease and decrease its detrimental effects on citrus production. Nowadays, green-synthesized nanoparticles are gaining attention for their use in controlling various crop diseases. This research is the first scientific approach to examine the potential of phylogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to restore the health of Huanglongbing-diseased ‘Kinnow’ mandarin plants in a biocompatible manner. AgNPs were synthesized using Moringa oleifera as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent and characterized using different characterization techniques, i.e., UV–visible spectroscopy with a maximum average peak at 418 nm, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a size of 74 nm, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), which confirmed the presence of silver ions along with different elements, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy served to confirm different functional groups of elements. Exogenously, AgNPs at various concentrations, i.e., 25, 50, 75, and 100 mgL−1, were applied against Huanglongbing-diseased plants to evaluate the physiological, biochemical, and fruit parameters. The findings of the current study revealed that 75 mgL−1 AgNPs were most effective in boosting the plants’ physiological profiles, i.e., chl a, chl b, total chl, carotenoid content, MSI, and RWC up to 92.87%, 93.36%, 66.72%, 80.95%, 59.61%, and 79.55%, respectively; biochemical parameters, i.e., 75 mgL−1 concentration decreased the proline content by up to 40.98%, and increased the SSC, SOD, POD, CAT, TPC, and TFC content by 74.75%, 72.86%, 93.76%, 76.41%, 73.98%, and 92.85%, respectively; and fruit parameters, i.e., 75 mgL−1 concentration increased the average fruit weight, peel diameter, peel weight, juice weight, rag weight, juice pH, total soluble solids, and total sugarby up to 90.78%, 8.65%, 68.06%, 84.74%, 74.66%, 52.58%, 72.94%, and 69.69%, respectively. These findings enable us to develop the AgNP formulation as a potential citrus Huanglongbing disease management method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Antibacterial Agents)
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