Functionaliztion of silver nanoparticles with 'beta'-lactam antibiotics: an alternative to bacterial resistance

Author(s)

Jessica Fernanda Affonso de Oliveira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Química
• Defense date: 2014-01-24

Examining board members

Mateus Borba Cardoso; René Alfonso Nome Silva; Silvia Stanisçuaski Guterres

• Advisor: Mateus Borba Cardoso

Abstract

The work described here aimed to obtain a dual bacterial inhibition system based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coated with mesoporous silica (MS) for further functionalization with b-lactams antibiotics. Ampicillin was the b-lactam chosen for the project development. Moreover, this work is focused on: (1) analyzing the possible synergism of using AgNPs combined with b-lactam antibiotic against ampicillin susceptible bacteria and (2) investigating a possible bactericidal action of the synthesized systems against Escherichia coli strain which is resistant to b-lactam. Two different methodologies for AgNPs synthesis were tested. The first one is based on the chemical reduction of Ag+ ions by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the presence of sodium citrate as capping agent, which did not allow the silica coating. However, it allowed us to study growth and partial aggregation of these nanoparticles. Therefore, the second alternative to synthesize AgNPs was based on the chemical reduction of Ag+ ions solubilized by ethylene glycol (EG) in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). This strategy allowed us coating the AgNPs with silica and these nanoparticles were used for functionalization with ampicillin. Biological activity experiments were conducted with Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli resistant to ampicillin (Gram-negatives) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), through nanoparticles incubation test in tubes containing the bacteria, followed by culturing on agar plates. All synthesized materials showed antibacterial properties, which increase with increasing concentration of the materials tested. From the biological tests, it is observed that silver nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica (Ag@SiO2) have high antimicrobial effect, promoting 100% reduction in the number of colonies for all bacteria studied. Furthermore, it is noticed that the functionalization with ampicillin increased the bactericidal properties of silica nanoparticles, and in high concentrations, silver functionalized with ampicillin (Ag@SiO2-Ampicillin) presented similar results to its respective precursor without functionalization. One possible explanation for the lower efficiency of the Ag@SiO2-Ampicillin system at low concentrations may be related to the occluded pores of mesoporous silica, caused by the functionalization process, while preventing the leaching of ionic silver. Despite the satisfactory results obtained for Ag@SiO2-Ampicillin system, it is still necessary to investigate an alternative which does not cause occlusion of silica pores and, consequently, does not reduce the effect of silver in the studied system (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/15937-2 - Funcionalization of silver nanoparticles with beta-lactam antibiotics: an alternative to bacterial resistance
• Grantee: Jessica Fernanda Affonso de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master