Overcoming Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Using Antimicrobial Peptides-Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

Antibiotics are regarded as a miracle in the medical field as it prevents disease caused by pathogenic bacteria. Since the discovery of penicillin, antibiotics have become the foundation for modern medical discoveries. However, bacteria soon became resistant to antibiotics, which puts a burden on the healthcare system. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become one of the most prominent antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the world since 1961. MRSA primarily developed resistance to beta-lactamases antibiotics and can be easily spread in the healthcare system. Thus, alternatives to combat MRSA are urgently required. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), an innate host immune agent and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are gaining interest as alternative treatments against MRSA. Both agents have broad-spectrum properties which are suitable candidates for controlling MRSA. Although both agents can exhibit antimicrobial effects independently, the combination of both can be synergistic and complementary to each other to exhibit stronger antimicrobial activity. The combination of AMPs and AgNPs also reduces their own weaknesses as their own, which can be developed as a potential agent to combat antibiotic resistance especially towards MRSA. Thus, this review aims to discuss the potential of antimicrobial peptides and silver nanoparticles towards controlling MRSA pathogen growth.

Silver Nanoparticle-Based Therapy: Can It Be Useful to Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria?

“…Biosynthesized AgNPs performed successful antimicrobial testing against S. aureus [ 107 , 133 ]. AgNPs may be applied to MRSA, the main cause of nosocomial infections worldwide [ 90 , 132 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 ]. AgNPs at sublethal doses together with ampicillin act synergistically against MRSA, with the effect being more pronounced when a lower concentration of ampicillin is present [ 136 ].…”

“…Stable, well-defined AgNPs, mostly spherical in shape (15 nm) were very active against MRSA isolates and coagulase-negative staphylococci in HIV patients while the in vitro toxicity was scarce and growth inhibition was dose-dependent as usual [ 144 ]. According to current research regarding the synergistic effect of AgNPs and antibiotics, it may be expected that combinations of AgNPs and antibiotics (mainly AMP) including the addition of carrier/polymer for a more effective delivery system to the target site of MRSA, can enhance antimicrobial activity and decrease the toxicity of the separate components [ 137 ].…”

“…The toxicity of AgNPs has been reviewed [ 148 ] and it was concluded that cytotoxicity of AgNPs can be considered as dependent on different properties such as size, shape, dose, agglomeration, or aggregation; however, there are not presently adequate studies to obtain a concrete idea of the cytotoxicity of AgNPs or the mechanism behind the toxicity. Binding AgNPs with a coating layer of peptides or other suitable biocompatible molecules can lower toxicity at the time the antibacterial effectivity increases [ 137 , 149 , 150 ].…”

Green Orange Peel-Mediated Bioinspired Synthesis of Nanoselenium and Its Antibacterial Activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

“…Especially, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are investigated as new antibacterial agents since they are comparable in efficacy and even more powerful compared with conventional antibiotics. , Besides, much fewer new antibiotics have been introduced by the pharmaceutical industry, and none of them have enhanced activity against multiresistant bacteria. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic-resistant kind of Staphylococcus aureus that is typically resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics such as cephalosporin and penicillin (oxacillin and methicillin) . Various antibiotics, such as co-trimoxazole, fusidic acid, clindamycin, and mupirocin, are also utilized as a second-line option in treating MRSA .…”

“…Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic-resistant kind of Staphylococcus aureus that is typically resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics such as cephalosporin and penicillin (oxacillin and methicillin). 7 Various antibiotics, such as co-trimoxazole, fusidic acid, clindamycin, and mupirocin, are also utilized as a second-line option in treating MRSA. 8 But, these antibiotics can only be prescribed when there is no other alternative available because of the resistance risk.…”