Leveraging the Attributes of Mucor hiemalis-Derived Silver Nanoparticles for a Synergistic Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Platform

Abstract

Driven by the need to engineer robust surface coatings for medical devices to prevent infection and sepsis, incorporation of nanoparticles has surfaced as a promising avenue to enhance non-fouling efficacy. Microbial synthesis of such nanoscale metallic structures is of substantive interest as this can offer an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable route for further development. Here we present a Mucor hiemalis-derived fungal route for synthesis of silver nanoparticles, which display significant antimicrobial properties when tested against six pathological bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas brassicacearum, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus) and three pathological fungal strains (Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus flavus). These antimicrobial attributes were comparable to those of established antibiotics (streptomycin, tetracycline, kanamycin, and rifampicin) and fungicides (amphotericin B, fluconazole, and ketoconazole), respectively. Importantly, these nanoparticles show significant synergistic characteristics when combined with the antibiotics and fungicides to offer substantially greater resistance to microbial growth. The blend of antibacterial and antifungal properties, coupled with their intrinsic “green” and facile synthesis, makes these biogenic nanoparticles particularly attractive for future applications in nanomedicine ranging from topical ointments and bandages for wound healing to coated stents.

Potentiation of Tobramycin by Silver Nanoparticles against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

“…The antimicrobial effects of silver have been known for decades (20)(21)(22), but despite its historical use and recent inclusion in consumer products (20), little is known about the mechanisms of its antimicrobial action (23)(24)(25)(26). Recent studies have assessed the effects of silver ions and AgNPs in combination with commonly used antibiotics and found that silver potentiates antimicrobial action of antibiotics against planktonically cultured bacterial pathogens (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38). Small AgNPs (8 to 10 nm) have also shown to be effective at detaching preformed P. aeruginosa biofilms (39) and recent studies from our lab have shown that small AgNPs (10 to 20 nm) synergize the antimicrobial activity of the monobactam antibiotic aztreonam (11).…”

Emblica officinalis (Amla) with a Particular Focus on Its Antimicrobial Potentials: A Review

“…AgNPs have shown potent antimicrobial effects in countering E. coli, S. aureus and S. marcescens [130][131][132] . It also showed antinematode 133 , antiviral 134 , anticancer 135,136 and anti-inflammatory effects 137 .…”

Fabrication of multifunctional cellulose/TiO2/Ag composite nanofibers scaffold with antibacterial and bioactivity properties for future tissue engineering applications

“…Furthermore, the Ag NPs possess no resistance among the wide-range of microbes (Aziz et al, 2016). Furthermore, the Ag NPs possess no resistance among the wide-range of microbes (Aziz et al, 2016).…”

“…In addition of having antibacterial properties, the Ag NPs are also effective against some of the fungal strains (e.g., Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) . Furthermore, the Ag NPs possess no resistance among the wide-range of microbes (Aziz et al, 2016). In this study, initially we have blended TiO 2 NPs with the solutions of cellulose acetate in acetone/water to form colloidal solution resulting in composite nanofibers using the electrospinning technique.…”