Synergistic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles Combined with Amoxicillin or Cymbopogon schoenanthus Essential Oil on the Formation of Bacterial Biofilm
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22317/jcms.v11i5.2032Keywords:
Exopolysaccharide, Silver Nanoparticles, Amoxicillin, Klebsiella, CymbopogonAbstract
Objective: Multidrug-resistant bacteria create an urgent need for new materials and treatment combinations. This study aims to identify effective antibiofilm agents derived from nanomaterials, either alone or in combination with antibiotics or essential plant oils, and to evaluate their potential in preventing biofilm formation.
Methods: Four bacterial pathogens were selected for their resistance to more than two classes of antibiotics: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Biofilm formation was assessed using the Crystal violet staining method, with the highest biofilm producer selected for further analysis. The biofilm formation and bacterial Exopolysaccharide (EPS) content were measured and compared after treatment with Ag nanoparticles, whether used alone or combined with Amoxicillin or the essential oil extracted from Cymbopogon schoenanthus.
Results: All treatments effectively inhibited both bacterial growth and biofilm formation. The most significant activity was observed with the combination of AgNPs and plant oil, followed by the combination of AgNPs and Amoxicillin, and then nanoparticles alone. All treatments demonstrated significant inhibitory effects compared to the control group (which did not receive any inhibitory substances). The addition of Amoxicillin or plant oil also reduced the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for K. pneumoniae, which were determined to be 6.0 µg/ml for nanoparticles alone, 4.5 µg/ml for nanoparticles combined with the antibiotic, and 3 µg/ml for nanoparticles combined with plant oil. Furthermore, the toxicity of nanoparticles against Artemia salina, a test organism, was assessed. Treatment with AgNPs also decreased EPS production by K. pneumoniae by 39.6%, with further reductions of 54% and 80% observed in the presence of the antibiotic or plant oil, respectively. The effectiveness of the plant oil is attributed to the numerous secondary metabolites it contains.
Conclusion: This research highlights the promising potential of using AgNPs with either Amoxicillin or C. schoenanthus oil to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
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