Alloy nanoparticles (NPs) of Silver-Copper (Ag-Cu) are shown to have potent antibacterial activity due to the release of Ag+ and Cu+ ions, but the toxic effect of the nanoparticles may extend to the host cells. The targeting of the NPs to the causative agent can decrease the toxicity of the NPs to the host cells. This study focusses on the synthesis and functionalization of Ag-Cu with Ubiquicidin (Ag-Cu-Ubi). Ubiquicidin is a protein molecule that can target and bind to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). S. aureus is the most prominent causative agent that results in bone infection called osteomyelitis. S. aureus is an intracellular pathogen and has developed mechanisms to evade antibiotic treatment and immune response. The antibiotic treatment in intracellular infection may become ineffective due to low intake and diffusion of antibiotics by the host cells. Also, the development of bacterial resistance can lead to ineffective antibiotic treatment. However, the ions released from the nanoparticles can penetrate the host cells. Therefore, our treatment strategy involves the release of ions at the site of infection where the concentration of S. aureus is high. In this work, S. aureus is targeted by the functionalization of the NPs with Ubiquicidin that can specifically bind to bacteria like S. aureus. The in vitro studies have shown that Ag-Cu-Ubi NPs have an antibacterial effect against S. aureus but was slightly less when compared to the non-functionalized Ag-Cu. Furthermore, the targeting NPs were also efficient in clearing a major percentage of infection in S. aureus-infected osteoblasts after 24 hours of incubation. Moreover, the strategy of targeting S. aureus reduces the dose of NPs for treatment and proportionally lower NP toxicity to host cells which can contribute to clinical osteomyelitis management and needs to be further studied employing in vivo animal models. 

Synthesis and targeting of ubiquicidin linked Ag-Cu nanoparticles to <i>S. aureus</i> in osteoblast infection

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Synthesis and targeting of ubiquicidin linked Ag-Cu nanoparticles to S. aureus in osteoblast infection