Zinc oxide nanoparticles conjugated with clinically-approved medicines as potential antibacterial molecules

Abstract

At present, antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing issues in healthcare globally. The development of new medicine for clinical applications is significantly less than the emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria, thus modification of existing medicines is a useful avenue. Among several approaches, nanomedicine is considered of potential therapeutic value. Herein, we have synthesized Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) conjugated with clinically-approved drugs (Quercetin, Ceftriaxone, Ampicillin, Naringin and Amphotericin B) with the aim to evaluate their antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli K1, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The nanoparticles and their drug conjugates were characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Antibacterial activity was performed by dilution colony forming unit method and finally 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to determine their cytotoxic effects against human cell lines. ZnO-NPs revealed maxima surface plasmon resonance band at 374 and after conjugation with beta-cyclodextrin at 379 nm, polydispersity with size in range of 25–45 nm with pointed shaped morphology. When conjugated with ZnO-NPs, drug efficacy against MDR bacteria was enhanced significantly. In particular, Ceftriaxone- and Ampicillin-conjugated ZnO-NPs exhibited potent antibacterial effects. Conversely, ZnO-NPs and drugs conjugated NPs showed negligible cytotoxicity against human cell lines except Amphotericin B (57% host cell death) and Amphotericin B-conjugated with ZnO-NPs (37% host cell death). In conclusion, the results revealed that drugs loaded on ZnO-NPs offer a promising approach to combat increasingly resistant bacterial infections.

Electrochemical sensor based on screen printed carbon electrode–zinc oxide nano particles/molecularly imprinted-polymer (SPCE–ZnONPs/MIP) for detection of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)

“…3a , the particle size distribution of ZnONPs showed an average diameter size of ∼71 nm with a monodisperse system (polydispersity index (PI) = 0.168). 37 The maximum absorption peak of ZnONPs was observed at λ = 377 nm ( Fig. 3b ), suggesting that the ZnONPs were in the form of hexagonal wurtzite.…”

In Silico Studies on Zinc Oxide Based Nanostructured Oil Carriers with Seed Extracts of Nigella sativa and Pimpinella anisum as Potential Inhibitors of 3CL Protease of SARS-CoV-2

“…After the capping of ZnO NPs with essential oils, a shift in the UV-visible absorbance of ZnO NPs-NLC was observed, which is explained due to the interaction of oils with ZnO NPs surface. This caused the disruption of the crystal lattice of ZnO NPs due to the presence of oils atoms in the lattice [28]. According to Gupta et al [29], the absorption peak regularly shifts to the lower wavelength or higher energy with the decreasing size of the NPs.…”

A one health approach versus Acanthamoeba castellanii, a potential host for Morganella morganii

“…Escherichia coli K1 and Morganella morganii were used in this study as described previously (Soopramanien et al 2021 ); Akbar et al 2021 ). Prior to the experiment, bacteria were cultured overnight in Luria Bertani (LB) and incubated at 37 ºC (Akbar, et al 2020 ; Yousuf, et al 2013 ).…”