Study of the antibacterial effects of the starch-based zinc oxide nanoparticles on methicillin resistance <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> isolates from different clinical specimens of patients from Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;This study aimed to assess the efficacy of starch-based zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) against methicillin-resistant &lt;italic&gt;Staphylococcus aureus&lt;/italic&gt; (MRSA) isolates from clinical specimens in Basrah, Iraq. In this cross-sectional study, 61 MRSA were collected from different clinical specimens of patients in Basrah city, Iraq. MRSA isolates were identified using standard microbiology tests, cefoxitin disc diffusion and oxacillin salt agar. ZnO-NPs were synthesized in three different concentrations (0.1 M, 0.05 M, 0.02 M) by the chemical method using starch as the stabilizer. Starch-based ZnO-NPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibacterial effects of particles were investigated by the disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the most effective starch-based ZnO-NPs were determined using a broth microdilution assay. The UV-Vis of all concentrations of starch-based ZnO-NPs exhibited a strong absorption band at 360 nm which was characteristic of the ZnO-NPs. XRD assay confirmed the representative hexagonal wurtzite phase of the starch-based ZnO-NPs, and their purity and high crystallinity. The spherical shape with a diameter of 21.56 ± 3.42 and 22.87 ± 3.91 was revealed for the particles by FE-SEM and TEM, respectively. EDS analysis confirmed the presence of zinc (Zn) (61.4 ± 0.54%) and oxygen (O) (36 ± 0.14%). The 0.1 M concentration had the highest antibacterial effects (mean ± SD of inhibition zone = 17.62 ± 2.65 mm) followed by the 0.05 M concentration (16.03 ± 2.24 mm) and the 0.02 M concentration (12.7 ± 2.57 mm). The MIC and the MBC of the 0.1 M concentration were in the range of 25–50 µg/mL and 50–100 µg/mL, respectively. Infections caused by MRSA can be treated with biopolymer-based ZnO-NPs as effective antimicrobials.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Recent advancements in natural polymers‐based self‐healing nano‐materials for wound dressing

“…102,103 Bioresorbable matrix of ZnONPs consists of collagen and 1% orange essential oil, but due to its high intrinsic toxicity at higher doses, its use is limited in wound therapy. 104 105 Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) show good membrane penetrability and display antibacterial properties due to their ability to disrupt cell walls and bacterial membrane. 106 Released Cu 2+ ion and H 2 O 2 cause cytoplasm degradation, ultimately causing cell apoptosis.…”

“…It inhibits the expression of superoxide‐dismutase and glutathione peroxidase gene and can potentiate carcinogenic transformation. Core‐shell nanocomposites are prepared by combining two metal ions (AuNPs from plant Hibiscus sabdariffa and zinc oxide), effective against resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus and S. aureus through the release of ROS 105 …”

A review of recent advances in the use of complex metal nanostructures for biomedical applications from diagnosis to treatment

“…Complex metallic nanoparticles have a potential to be used as a bactericidal agent due to their physical, chemical, and biological properties (Balcucho et al, 2023; F. Pan, Giovannini, et al, 2022; Shi et al, 2023; Vasile et al, 2020). Indeed, nanoparticles such as gold (Shanwaz & Shyam, 2023; Zhan et al, 2022), silver (Esfahani et al, 2023; Hassan Afandy et al, 2023; Macovei et al, 2023), zinc oxide (Al‐Mosawi et al, 2023; Mousa et al, 2023; Xu et al, 2023), iron oxide (Shahriary et al, 2018), copper oxide (Bilal et al, 2022), titanium oxide (Abdolmajid et al, 2019), and gallium nanoparticles (Kircheva & Dudev, 2020; L. Li, Chang, et al, 2021; Pajor et al, 2020) have shown potential as antibacterial agents.…”