| Affiliation: | 1. Nanomedicine Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;2. Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;3. Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt;4. King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;5. Biophysics and Surface Analysis, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawarrah, Saudi Arabia |
| Abstract: | ![]()
ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to study the antimicrobial activity of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa with special emphasis on their sensitivity to pH and the effect of pH on their activity.MethodologyAntimicrobial activity of CSNPs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at different pH was tested using broth dilution method. Further assessment of antivirulence activity and sensitization of CSNPs on Pseudomonas aeruginosa were examined.ResultsSignificant antimicrobial effects of CSNPs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were detected at slightly acidic pH 5, whereas the activity was abolished at a pH of greater than 7. The antivirulence activity of CSNPs was then investigated and treatment with CSNPs (1000 ppm) resulted in a significant reduction or even complete inhibition of pyocyanin production by P. aeruginosa compared with untreated P. aeruginosa indicating the antivirulence activity of CSNPs. CSNPs also sensitized P. aeruginosa to the lytic effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); such sensitization was not blocked by washing chitosan-treated cells prior to SDS exposure revealing that CSNPs disturb the outer membrane leading to irreversible sensitivity to detergent even at low concentration (100 ppm).ConclusionsThese findings highlight CSNPs as potentially useful as indirect antimicrobial agents for a variety of applications. |
