Antibacterial Activity of Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Copper Nanoparticle Nanofibers on Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Abstract

Bacteria induced diseases such as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are easily transmitted through respiratory droplets expelled from a person’s nose or mouth. It has become increasingly important for researchers to discover materials that can be implemented in in vitro surface contact settings which disrupt bacterial growth and transmission. Copper (Cu) is known to have antibacterial properties and have been used in medical applications. This study investigates the antibacterial properties of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based nanofibers coated with different concentrations of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). Different concentrations of copper sulfate (CuSO4) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were mixed with dimethylformamide (DMF) solution, an electrospinning solvent that also acts as a reducing agent for CuSO4, which forms CuNPs and Cu ions. The resulting colloidal solutions were electrospun into nanofibers, which were then characterized using various analysis techniques. Methicillin-Resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, an infective strain that induces pneumonia, were incubated with cutouts of various nanocomposites using disk diffusion methods on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar to test for the polymers’ antibacterial properties. Herein, we disclose that PAN-CuNP nanofibers have successfully demonstrated antibacterial activity against bacteria that were otherwise resistant to highly effective antibiotics. Our findings reveal that PAN-CuNP nanofibers have the potential to be used on contact surfaces that are at risk of contracting bacterial infections, such as masks, in vivo implants, or surgical intubation.

Perspectives on Usage of Functional Nanomaterials in Antimicrobial Therapy for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Infections

“…Nanocarriers can reduce drug resistance by delivering therapies with diverse modes of action and by minimizing sub-inhibitory drug exposure to bacteria. 118,119 Nanoparticles of poly(lactide-coglycolide) or (PLGA) loaded with gentamicin showed enhanced antibacterial efficacy against P. aeruginosa in both in vitro and in vivo studies. 120 Consequently, levofloxacin packed inside silver coreembedded MSNs (Ag@MSNs@LEVO) effectively treated MDR E. coli isolates; the mixture had a synergistic antibacterial effect.…”

“…Antibiotics that generally present several pharmacological challenges can improve their stability, solubility, and biocompatibility through delivery methods. Nanocarriers can reduce drug resistance by delivering therapies with diverse modes of action and by minimizing sub-inhibitory drug exposure to bacteria. , Nanoparticles of poly­(lactide-coglycolide) or (PLGA) loaded with gentamicin showed enhanced antibacterial efficacy against P. aeruginosa in both in vitro and in vivo studies…”

Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Silver(I,III) Oxide Nanoparticle Nanocomposites as Alternative Antimicrobial Materials

“…Previous studies have used carbon-based polymers to create nanoparticle-based surface coatings used in antimicrobial nanocomposite engineering applications; this is because organic polymers possess a high surface area-to-volume ratio, are malleable, and have a compact structure. , Among various carbon polymers, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is optimal for antimicrobial experimentation due to its ability for effective fibril formation via electrospinning. , PAN has stable mechanical and thermal properties, is able to degrade before reaching its melting point, and possesses a high carbon yield, making it an ideal polymer that could be used in solution-based electrospinning formation. , Our recent study on polyacrylonitrile-copper nanoparticle (PAN-CuNP) nanofibers took advantage of these characteristics and successfully synthesized a series of antibacterial copper-based nanocomposites …”

“… 35 , 36 Our recent study on polyacrylonitrile-copper nanoparticle (PAN-CuNP) nanofibers took advantage of these characteristics and successfully synthesized a series of antibacterial copper-based nanocomposites. 37 …”

Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Silver Nanoparticle (PAN-AgNP) Nanocomposites as Alternative Antimicrobial Materials

“…PAN also has stable mechanical and thermal properties and possesses a high carbon yield, making it an ideal polymer that could be used in antimicrobial nanocomposite formation 35 . Our recent study on polyacrylonitrile-copper nanoparticle (PAN-CuNP) nanofibers took advantage of these characteristics and successfully synthesized a series of antibacterial copper-based nanocomposites 36 .…”