Search Results (32)

In animal production, nanoparticulate zinc oxide exhibits synergistic antibacterial efficacy coupled with growth-promoting effects, positioning itself as a novel antibiotic alternative with enhanced biosafety profiles. However, its dose-dependent toxicity poses challenges. Objective: The experimental design sought to quantify the protective effects of dietary rutin against zinc-overload-induced damage. Methods: A zinc-overload murine model was established by giving high-dose ZnO nanoparticles (HZn, 5000 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. Mice were then fed rutin at doses of 300, 600, or 1200 mg/kg. Body weight, relative organ indexes, zinc concentrations, serum enzyme activities, and tissue-level indicators of apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial function, and antioxidant capacity were measured. Results: The results showed that rutin could not reverse HZn-induced body weight decline but improved relative organ indexes in liver and kidney. It alleviated HZn-induced cell damage and enhanced antioxidant capacity in jejunum and serum through Nrf2 activation, without inhibiting HZn-induced zinc elevation. Conclusions: Rutin, especially at 600 mg/kg, can partially restore hepatic function and organ index and mitigate HZn-induced hepatic and jejunal injuries. Full article

The growing threat of bacterial resistance, coupled with the increasing costs associated with drug development, poses significant challenges in the discovery of new antibiotics. The present study reports the synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives derived from chalcones, using silica-mediated magnetic iron oxide, Fe₂O₃@SiO₂ nanoparticles as a nanocatalyst. The nanoparticles were characterized using FT-IR, SEM-EDS, XRD, Zeta-Potential, and VSM techniques to confirm their structure and properties. Among them, the series 8a–e (particularly compound 8c) demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity, with effectiveness comparable to standard drugs Fluconazole and Amoxicillin; this was attributed to the presence of polar groups. Other derivatives exhibited moderate activity, with MICs ranging from 25 to 50 μg/mL, while no significant activity was observed against Gram-negative bacteria. These compounds hold potential as promising antimicrobial agents and warrant further investigation for the development of effective therapies. Full article

The aim of this work was to synthesize, characterize and apply advanced antimicrobial biocompatible electrospun polymers suitable for medical implants for surgical repairs. Injuries to the musculoskeletal system often necessitate surgical repair, but current treatments can still lead to high failure rates, such as 40% for the repair of rotator cuff tears. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new biocompatible materials that can effectively support the repair of damaged tissues. Additionally, infections acquired during hospitalization, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, result in more fatalities than AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis combined. This underscores the critical necessity for the advancement of antimicrobial implants with specialized coatings capable of combating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), two strains notoriously known for their antibiotic resistance. Therefore, we developed an antimicrobial coating incorporating nanoparticle mixtures using the sol-gel process and applied it to electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) filaments, followed by thorough characterization by using spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman, NMR) microscopic (SEM and SEM-EDX), and tensile test. The results have shown that the integration of electro-spinning technology for yarn production, coupled with surface modification techniques, holds significant potential for creating antimicrobial materials suitable for medical implants for surgical repairs. Full article

Polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles, including PIC micelles and PICsomes, are typically composed of poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers coupled with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes or therapeutic agents via electrostatic interaction. Due to a simple and rapid preparation process with high drug-loading efficiency, PIC nanoparticles are beneficial to maintaining the chemical integrity and high biological activity of the loaded drugs. However, the stability of PIC nanoparticles can be disrupted in high-ionic-strength solutions because electrostatic interaction is the DRIVING force; these disruptions can thus impair drug delivery. Herein, we summarize the advances in the use of PIC nanoparticles for delivery of charged drugs, focusing on the different chemical and physical strategies employed to enhance their stability, including enhancing the charge density, crosslinking, increasing hydrophobic interactions, forming hydrogen bonds, and the development of PIC-based gels. In particular, we describe the use of PIC nanoparticles to load peptide antibiotics targeting antibiotic-resistant and biofilm-related diseases and the use of nanoparticles that load chemotherapeutics and gaseous donors for cancer treatment. Furthermore, the application of PIC nanoparticles as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents is summarized for the first time. Therefore, this review is of great significance for advances in the use of polymeric nanoparticles for functional drug delivery. Full article

Microbial biofilm formation creates a persistent and resistant environment in which microorganisms can survive, contributing to antibiotic resistance and chronic inflammatory diseases. Increasingly, biofilms are caused by multi-drug resistant microorganisms, which, coupled with a diminishing supply of effective antibiotics, is driving the search for new antibiotic therapies. In this respect, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short, hydrophobic, and amphipathic peptides that show activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and biofilm formation. They also possess broad-spectrum activity and diverse mechanisms of action. In this comprehensive review, 150 publications (from January 2020 to September 2023) were collected and categorized using the search terms ‘polypeptide antibiotic agent’, ‘antimicrobial peptide’, and ‘biofilm’. During this period, a wide range of natural and synthetic AMPs were studied, of which LL-37, polymyxin B, GH12, and Nisin were the most frequently cited. Furthermore, although many microbes were studied, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most popular. Publications also considered AMP combinations and the potential role of AMP delivery systems in increasing the efficacy of AMPs, including nanoparticle delivery. Relatively few publications focused on AMP resistance. This comprehensive review informs and guides researchers about the latest developments in AMP research, presenting promising evidence of the role of AMPs as effective antimicrobial agents. Full article

Currently available silver-based antiseptic wound dressings have limited patient effectiveness. There exists a need for wound dressings that behave as comfortable degradable hydrogels with a strong antibiotic potential. The objectives of this project were to investigate the combined use of gallates (either epi gallo catechin gallate (EGCG), Tannic acid, or Quercetin) as both PVA crosslinking agents and as potential synergistic antibiotics in combination with silver nanoparticles. Crosslinking was assessed gravimetrically, silver and gallate release was measured using inductively coupled plasma and HPLC methods, respectively. Synergy was measured using 96-well plate FICI methods and in-gel antibacterial effects were measured using planktonic CFU assays. All gallates crosslinked PVA with optimal extended swelling obtained using EGCG or Quercetin at 14% loadings (100 mg in 500 mg PVA with glycerol). All three gallates were synergistic in combination with silver nanoparticles against both gram-positive and -negative bacteria. In PVA hydrogel films, silver nanoparticles with EGCG or Quercetin more effectively inhibited bacterial growth in CFU counts over 24 h as compared to films containing single agents. These biocompatible natural-product antibiotics, EGCG or Quercetin, may play a dual role of providing stable PVA hydrogel films and a powerful synergistic antibiotic effect in combination with silver nanoparticles. Full article

Postpartum infection of the uterus by pathogenic bacteria is exacerbated due to a lack of sufficient epidemiological studies and evidence-based therapeutics. Therefore, this study was planned to find the prevalence, risk factors, and drug-resistance profile of S. aureus and E. coli isolated from bovine endometritis and to evaluate the antibacterial potential of sodium alginate-based antibiotics and nanoparticles. The study revealed 34.21% S. aureus and 31.57% E. coli, whereas most of the assumed risk factors presented significant association in this study. S. aureus showed the highest resistance against fusidic acid (60%) and cefoxitin (50%), while the highest resistance in E. coli was found against fusidic acid (60%), gentamicin (60%), chloramphenicol (50%), and cefoxitin (50%). Tylosin coupled with MgO nanoparticles stabilized in sodium alginate gel (Tylo + MgO + gel) presented significantly lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against E. coli, showing 13.88 ± 4.51 µg/mL after 24 h incubation. On the other hand, gel-based preparations showed MIC as 31.25 ± 0 µg/mL (Tylo + gel + MgO) and 26.04 ± 9.02 µg/mL (Tylo + Gel) against S. aureus. Generally, the MICs of non-gel-based preparations were significantly higher against bacteria except ampicillin against S. aureus in this study. The toxicity analysis of MgO nanoparticles presented 20–80% mortality of snails against a wider range of 0.01 mg/mL–10 mg/mL. The histopathological parameters concluded MgO nanoparticles safe to use on off targets. The current study thus concludes the rise in antimicrobial resistance while the gel-based products appearing as effective antimicrobials with sufficient safety margins for off-targets. The study thus invites further investigation for the development of suitable and affordable modified therapeutics for better health and production of animals. Full article

Polymicrobial mastitis is now becoming very common in dairy animals, resulting in exaggerated resistance to multiple antibiotics. The current study was executed to find drug responses in individual and mixed Culture of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli isolated from milk samples, as well as to evaluate the antibacterial potential of tungsten oxide nanoparticles. These isolates (alone and in mixed culture) were further processed for their responses to antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. On the other hand, tungsten oxide WO₃ (W) nanoparticles coupled with antibiotics (ampicillin, A, and oxytetracycline, O) were prepared through the chemical method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible techniques. The preparations consisting of nanoparticles alone (W) and coupled with ampicillin (WA) and oxytetracycline (WO) were tested against individual and mixed Culture through the well diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The findings of the current study showed the highest resistance in E. coli was against penicillin (60%) and ampicillin (50%), while amikacin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and oxytetracycline were the most effective antibiotics. S. aureus showed the highest resistance against penicillin (50%), oxytetracycline (40%), and ciprofloxacin (40%), while, except for ampicillin, the sensitive strains of S. aureus were in the range of 40–60% against the rest of antibiotics. The highest zones of inhibition (ZOI) against mixed Culture were shown by imipenem and ampicillin, whereas the highest percentage decrease in ZOI was noted in cases of ciprofloxacin (−240%) and gentamicin (−119.4%) in comparison to individual Culture of S. aureus and E. coli. It was noteworthy that the increase in ZOI was not more than 38% against mixed Culture as compared to the individual Culture. On the other hand, there was a significant reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nanoparticle-coupled antibiotics compared to nanoparticles alone for individual and mixed-culture bacteria, while MICs in the case of mixed Culture remained consistently high throughout the trial. This study therefore concluded that diverse drug resistance was present in both individual and mixed-culture bacteria, whereas the application of tungsten oxide nanoparticle-coupled antibiotics proved to be an effective candidate in reversing the drug resistance in bacterial strains. Full article

One major problem with the overuse of antibiotics is that the microorganisms acquire resistance; thus the dose must be increased unsustainably. To overcome this problem, researchers from around the world are actively investigating new types of antimicrobials. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have been proven to exhibit strong antimicrobial effects; moreover, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) considers ZnO as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). Many essential oils have antimicrobial activity and their components do not generate resistance over time. One of the drawbacks is the high volatility of some components, which diminishes the antimicrobial action as they are eliminated. The combination of ZnO NPs and essential oils can synergistically produce a stronger antimicrobial effect, and some of the volatile compounds can be retained on the nanoparticles’ surface, ensuring a better-lasting antimicrobial effect. The samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and thermal analysis (TG-DSC) coupled with analysis of evolved gases using FTIR. The ZnO NPs, with a size of ~35 nm, exhibited a loading between 1.44% and 15.62%—the lower values were specific for limonene-containing oils (e.g., orange, grapefruit, bergamot, or limette), while high values were obtained from cinnamon, minzol, thyme, citronella, and lavender oils—highlighting differences among non-polar terpenes and alcohol or aldehyde derivatives. The antibacterial assay indicated the existence of a synergic action among components and a high dependency on the percentage of loaded oil. Loaded nanoparticles offer immense potential for the development of materials with specific applications, such as wound dressings or food packaging. These nanoparticles can be utilized in scenarios where burst delivery is desired or when prolonged antibacterial activity is sought. Full article

Green approaches for nanoparticle synthesis have emerged as biocompatible, economical, and environment-friendly alternatives to counteract the menace of microbial drug resistance. Recently, the utilization of honey as a green source to synthesize Fe₂O₃-NPs has been introduced, but its antibacterial activity against one of the opportunistic MDR pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, has not been explored. Therefore, this study employed Apis mellifera honey as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃-NPs). Subsequent to the characterization of nanoparticles, their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties were appraised. In UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis, the absorption band ascribed to the SPR peak was observed at 350 nm. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of Fe₂O₃-NPs, and the crystal size was deduced to be 36.2 nm. Elemental analysis by EDX validated the presence of iron coupled with oxygen in the nanoparticle composition. In ICP-MS, the highest concentration was of iron (87.15 ppm), followed by sodium (1.49 ppm) and other trace elements (<1 ppm). VSM analysis revealed weak magnetic properties of Fe₂O₃-NPs. Morphological properties of Fe₂O₃-NPs revealed by SEM demonstrated that their average size range was 100–150 nm with a non-uniform spherical shape. The antibacterial activity of Fe₂O₃-NPs was ascertained against 30 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, with the largest inhibition zone recorded being 10 mm. The MIC value for Fe₂O₃-NPs was 30 µg/mL. However, when mingled with three selected antibiotics, Fe₂O₃-NPs did not affect any antibacterial activity. Momentous antioxidant (IC₅₀ = 22 µg/mL) and anti-inflammatory (IC₅₀ = 70 µg/mL) activities of Fe₂O₃-NPs were discerned in comparison with the standard at various concentrations. Consequently, honey-mediated Fe₂O₃-NP synthesis may serve as a substitute for orthodox antimicrobial drugs and may be explored for prospective biomedical applications. Full article

In this work, we focused on synthesizing and assessing novel chitosan-based antibacterial polymers and their nanoparticles by incorporating benzothiazole substituents. The growing resistance to antibiotics has necessitated the search for alternative antimicrobial compounds. This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate chitosan-based polymers and nanoparticles with benzothiazole substituents for their antibacterial properties and toxicity. The benzothiazole derivatives of chitosan and their nanoparticles were synthesized through electrochemical coupling. The in vivo antibacterial efficacy was tested on white rats with induced peritonitis using a microbial suspension containing S. aureus and E. coli. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessments were conducted. The chitosan-based antibacterial systems showed significant in vivo antibacterial activity, surpassing that of unmodified chitosan and commercial antibiotics. Moreover, the toxicity studies revealed low toxicity levels of the synthesized derivatives, which did not differ significantly from native chitosan. The synthesized chitosan-based polymers and nanoparticles demonstrated potent antibacterial activity and low toxicity, highlighting their potential as effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Further investigations in pharmacology and preclinical trials are recommended to explore their application in clinical settings. Full article

Radiosterilized pig skin (RPS) has been used as a dressing for burns since the 1980s. Its similarity to human skin in terms of the extracellular matrix (ECM) allows the attachment of mesenchymal stem cells, making it ideal as a scaffold to create cellularized constructs. The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been proven to be an appropriate alternative to the use of antibiotics and a potential solution against multidrug-resistant bacteria. RPS can be impregnated with AgNPs to develop nanomaterials capable of preventing wound infections. The main goal of this study was to assess the use of RPS as a scaffold for autologous fibroblasts (Fb), keratinocytes (Kc), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the treatment of second-degree burns (SDB). Additionally, independent RPS samples were impregnated with AgNPs to enhance their properties and further develop an antibacterial dressing that was initially tested using a burn mouse model. This protocol was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the INRLGII (INR 20/19 AC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis of the synthesized AgNPs showed an average size of 10 nm and rounded morphology. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and Kirby–Bauer assays indicated that AgNPs (in solution at a concentration of 125 ppm) exhibit antimicrobial activity against the planktonic form of S. aureus isolated from burned patients; moreover, a log reduction of 1.74 ± 0.24 was achieved against biofilm formation. The nanomaterial developed with RPS impregnated with AgNPs solution at 125 ppm (RPS-AgNPs125) facilitated wound healing in a burn mouse model and enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, as analyzed by Masson’s staining in histological samples. No silver was detected by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) in the skin, and neither by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in different organs of the mouse burn model. Calcein/ethidium homodimer (EthD-1), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that Fb, Kc, and MSC could attach to RPS with over 95% cell viability. Kc were capable of releasing FGF at 0.5 pg above control levels, as analyzed by ELISA assays. An autologous RPS-Fb-Kc construct was implanted in a patient with SDB and compared to an autologous skin graft. The patient recovery was assessed seven days post-implantation, and the patient was followed up at one, two, and three months after the implantation, exhibiting favorable recovery compared to the gold standard, as measured by the cutometer. In conclusion, RPS effectively can be used as a scaffold for the culture of Fb, Kc, and MSC, facilitating the development of a cellularized construct that enhances wound healing in burn patients. Full article

The combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the form of ionic liquids or organic salts (API-OSILs) with mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as drug carriers can provide a useful tool in enhancing the capabilities of current antibiotics, especially against resistant strains of bacteria. In this publication, the preparation of a set of three nanomaterials based on the modification of a MSN surface with cholinium ([MSN-Chol][Cip]), 1-methylimidazolium ([MSN-1-MiM][Cip]) and 3-picolinium ([MSN-3-Pic][Cip]) ionic liquids coupled with anionic ciprofloxacin have been reported. All ionic liquids and functionalized nanomaterials were prepared through sustainable protocols, using microwave-assisted heating as an alternative to conventional methods. All materials were characterized through FTIR, solution ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, XRD and N₂ adsorption at 77 K. The prepared materials showed no in vitro cytotoxicity in fibroblasts viability assays. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for all materials was tested against Gram-negative K. pneumoniae and Gram-positive Enterococcus spp., both with resistant and sensitive strains. All sets of nanomaterials containing the anionic antibiotic outperformed free ciprofloxacin against resistant and sensitive forms of K. pneumoniae, with the prominent case of [MSN-Chol][Cip] suggesting a tenfold decrease in the MIC against sensitive strains. Against resistant K. pneumoniae, a five-fold decrease in the MIC was observed for all sets of nanomaterials compared with neutral ciprofloxacin. Against Enterococcus spp., only [MSN-1-MiM][Cip] was able to demonstrate a slight improvement over the free antibiotic. Full article

Alternative and modified therapeutic approaches are key elements in culminating antibiotic resistance. To this end, an experimental trial was conducted to determine the cytotoxicity and antibacterial potential of composites of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles and antibiotics stabilized in sodium alginate gel against multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a houbara bustard. The characterization of preparations was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmissible electron microscopy (STEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The preparations used in this trial consisted of gel-stabilized MgO nanoparticles (MG), gel-stabilized tylosin (GT), gel-stabilized ampicillin (GA), gel-stabilized cefoxitin (GC), gel-stabilized MgO and tylosin (GMT), gel-stabilized MgO and cefoxitin (GMC), and gel-stabilized MgO and ampicillin (GMA). The study presents composites that cause a lesser extent of damage to DNA while significantly enhancing mitotic indices/phases compared to the other single component preparations with respect to the positive control (methyl methanesulphonate). It was also noted that there was a non-significant difference (p > 0.05) between the concentrations of composites and the negative control in the toxicity trial. Studying in parallel trials showed an increased prevalence, potential risk factors, and antibiotic resistance in S. aureus. The composites in a well diffusion trial showed the highest percentage increase in the zone of inhibition in the case of GT (58.42%), followed by GMT (46.15%), GC (40.65%), GMC (40%), GMA (28.72%), and GA (21.75%) compared to the antibiotics alone. A broth microdilution assay showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the case of GMA (9.766 ± 00 µg/mL), followed by that of GT (13.02 ± 5.64 µg/mL), GMC (19.53 ± 0.00 µg/mL), GA (26.04 ± 11.28 µg/mL), GMT (26.04 ± 11.28 µg/mL), MG (39.06 ± 0.00 µg/mL), and GC (39.06 ± 0.00 µg/mL). The study thus concludes the effective tackling of multiple-drug-resistant S. aureus with sodium-alginate-stabilized MgO nanoparticles and antibiotics, whereas toxicity proved to be negligible for these composites. Full article

Antibiotic residues in breast milk can have an impact on the intestinal flora and health of babies. Amoxicillin, as one of the most used antibiotics, affects the abundance of some intestinal bacteria. In this study, we developed a convenient and rapid process that used a combination of colorimetric methods and artificial intelligence image preprocessing, and back propagation-artificial neural network (BP-ANN) analysis to detect amoxicillin in breast milk. The colorimetric method derived from the reaction of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was coupled to aptamers (ssDNA) with different concentrations of amoxicillin to produce different color results. The color image was captured by a portable image acquisition device, and image preprocessing was implemented in three steps: segmentation, filtering, and cropping. We decided on a range of detection from 0 µM to 3.9 µM based on the physiological concentration of amoxicillin in breast milk and the detection effect. The segmentation and filtering steps were conducted by Hough circle detection and Gaussian filtering, respectively. The segmented results were analyzed by linear regression and BP-ANN, and good linear correlations between the colorimetric image value and concentration of target amoxicillin were obtained. The R2 and MSE of the training set were 0.9551 and 0.0696, respectively, and those of the test set were 0.9276 and 0.1142, respectively. In prepared breast milk sample detection, the recoveries were 111.00%, 98.00%, and 100.20%, and RSDs were 6.42%, 4.27%, and 1.11%. The result suggests that the colorimetric process combined with artificial intelligence image preprocessing and BP-ANN provides an accurate, rapid, and convenient way to achieve the detection of amoxicillin in breast milk. Full article