Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Loaded Antibiotics Against Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter spp.

Abstract

Background: Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have shown promising efficacy for combating bacterial resistance due to their antibacterial properties. This research investigated the effect of zinc oxide NPs (ZnO-NPs) on the antibacterial activity of conventional antibiotics including ciprofloxacin (CIP), cefotaxime (CTX), and colistin (CST) against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter isolates. Methods: The disc diffusion method was performed to detect the pattern of antibiotic resistance in isolates. The synthesized ZnO-NPs via the solvothermal method were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Finally, the broth microdilution technique was conducted to demonstrate the antibacterial activity of CIP, CTX, and CST antibiotics with and without a sub-inhibitory concentration of ZnO-NPs. Results: XRD, EDS, and FESEM results confirmed the crystalline structure of ZnO-NPs, and the average size was 100±58.68 nm. All isolates were discovered to be of multidrug-resistant (MDR) type and fully susceptible to CST. The antibacterial activity of CTX and CIP was restored when combined with a sub-inhibitory level of ZnO-NPs (0.25 mg/L), and the highest activity was obtained at the concentrations of 32 µg/mL CTX and 8 µg/ mL CIP. Eventually, ZnO-NPs showed a synergistic effect on the antibacterial properties of CST against MDR Acinetobacter. Conclusions: This research indicated that the combination of ZnO-NPs with some common antibiotics can be considered as a novel strategy for reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Study of MIC of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles, strong and cost-effective antibacterial against biofilm-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Shiraz, Southwest of Iran

“…In terms of biofilm production power, like other studies, all the isolates were not able to produce biofilm [ 25 – 27 ]. In the investigations carried out in Iran by Shokrollahiet al and the study conducted by Łysakowska et al in Poland, contrary to the present study, they showed that there is a significant relationship between MIC of nanoparticles and antibiotic resistance [ 28 , 29 ]. In the study conducted by Hendiani et al in Iran, like the study conducted in other parts of the world, in line with the present study, they concluded that there is a significant relationship between the power of biofilm production and the MIC of Ag and ZnO NPs [ 30 – 32 ].…”

Zinc oxide nanoparticles impact the expression of the genes involved in toxin–antitoxin systems in multidrug‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

“…The antibacterial sensitivity test results in this study indicate the widespread resistance among A. baumannii isolates against most commonly used antibacterial agents in Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran, Iran, so that 77.14% of the isolates were found resistant to cefepime. MDR patterns of A. baumannii reported here was similar to the one have been reported previously in many parts of the world [37–39]. Our data showed significant correlations between the presence of HicA/HicB system and resistance to ceftazidime, meropenem, imipenem, and cefepime ( p < 0.05), and the presence of HipA/HipB system and resistance to ceftazidime, meropenem, imipenem, and cefepime.…”

“…In this study, we report that the treatment of MDR A. baumannii with a subinhibitory concentration of ZnO‐NPs resulted in reduction in expression of all studied genes ( GNAT and hicB showed the highest and lowest rate change of expression by 2.4 folds ( p < 0.001) and 1.3 folds ( p < 0.05), respectively). The antimicrobial effect of ZnO‐NPs alone [38, 39, 44, 45] and its synergistic effect in combination with antibiotics [38, 39] against resistant Acinetobacter has been demonstrated in previous studies.…”

Antimicrobial Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

“…In studies on different bacteria, including S. aureus and E. coli, ZnO-NPs (20-45 nm) combined with various antibiotics demonstrated variable impacts on bacterial resistance [27,28]. Other studies in Iran have also revealed the ability of ZnO-NP to enhance the antimicrobial actions of fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin) and cephalosporins (ceftazidime) against MDR A. baumannii [23,29]. Moreover, the sub-inhibitory concentration of ZnO-NPs did not affect the activity of ciprofloxacin against A. baumannii but enhanced ceftazidime activity [30].…”