The rise of multi-drug resistant ESKAPE pathogens and the danger to our survival is documented by WHO since years. Common drug families are falling victim to the evolving resistance mechanisms of microorganisms and lose their effectivity in health care. Nosocomial infections endangering lives in emergency rooms, increased morbidity and mortality rates are ringing alarm bells. The COVID-19 ridden world population is facing dangerous pathogens in the health care institutions, which developed resistance and cannot be easily eliminated. This burden on quality of life, treatment costs and duration is going to increase culminating in millions of losses in the coming century. Nanotechnology appeared as a tool in this fight against dangerous microorganisms. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have known antimicrobial properties and are interesting drug carriers as well. Sustainable solutions with known, non-toxic, easy accessible, natural remedies are probably an alternative waiting to be discovered. Plants survive since their existence by a plethora of biocomponents acting through synergetic mechanisms. We combined <i>cinnamomum zeylanicum</i> (Cinn) with AgNP and iodine (I<sub>2</sub>), another world famous microbicide used since centuries in many cultures against illnesses. As a comparison, we prepared trans-cinnamic acid-AgNP-iodine formulations and tested both compounds against 5 microbial reference strains by zone inhibition studies on sterile discs and surgical sutures. The biocompounds were characterized by XRD, UV, FTIR, nanosizer, SEM and EDS. Our components showed excellent to very good inhibitory action against the tested pathogens and can be used as disinfectants, microbicides and coating agents for sutures to prevent surgical site infections.

PVP encapsulated antimicrobial plant polyphenol-AgNP-iodine biocomposites

ACS Spring 2022

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