Staphylococcus epidermidis readily colonizes on human epithelia. Despite its seemingly benign nature, it is an opportunistic pathogen, and can prove difficult to eradicate upon infection. It is thus important to identify effective antibacterial agents for S. epidermidis. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the S. epidermidis antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles and compare to the antibacterial activity of lavender, lemongrass, cinnamon, and clove essential oils. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using silver nitrate and sodium borohydride as a reducing agent and characterized using UV-Vis absorbance spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy. Essential oils were obtained from a local health store. S. epidermidis was cultured on tryptic soy agar plates and in tryptic soy broth and spiked with silver nanoparticles and essential oils. Antibacterial activity was assessed qualitatively by inhibition of bacterial growth. Preliminary growth inhibition studies indicate that neither silver nanoparticles nor lavender essential oils effectively kill S. epidermidis. To quantify the essential oil active ingredient concentrations, a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) internal standard method which we have previously developed was employed. To quantify the antibacterial activity, isovaleric acid, a product of S. epidermidis’ metabolism of leucine, will be extracted from cultured bacteria spiked with leucine and measured using GCMS. Both the qualitative and quantitative antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles and essential oils will be presented.

Measuring the antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles and essential oils on Staphylococcus epidermidis using GCMS

2019 Spring National Meeting

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