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In Vivo and In Vitro Assessments of the Antibacterial Potential of Chitosan-Silver Nanocomposite Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus–Induced Infection in Rats

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Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most threatening multidrug-resistant bacteria worldwide. Owing to their efficient antimicrobial properties, nanoparticles have been widely used as an alternative approach for combating the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Consequently, this study was designed to compare in between the bactericidal effect of low doses (5 mg/kg bwt) of nanoparticles of chitosan (Ch-NPs), silver (Ag-NPs), and chitosan-silver nanocomposites (Ch-Ag NCs) both in vitro and in vivo against experimentally chronic infection induced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The three forms of nanoparticles were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against MRSA by detection of MICs and MBCs using microdilution method. In vivo, thirty-five male albino Wistar rats were used and divided into five groups (n = 7). Group l (negative control), group 2 (MRSA infected and untreated), groups 3, 4, and 5 (MRSA infected then treated with Ch-NPs, Ag-NPs, and Ch-Ag NCs respectively for 7 days). After 6 weeks, blood samples were collected then rats were euthanized to collect different organs (liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys). Some of them were kept in 10% formalin for histopathological investigations while others used for bacterial re-isolation. Ch-Ag NCs showed the lowest MIC and MBC among the tested nanoparticles. Moreover, the highest histopathological scoring was observed in the infected and untreated group while the lowest scoring was detected in groups treated with Ch-Ag NCs in comparison with the negative control group. The highest bacterial count was noticed in the infected and untreated group followed by those treated with Ch-NPs while the lowest count was observed in group treated with Ch-Ag NCs. Depending on these results, it can be concluded that Ch-Ag NCs have a strong bactericidal effect against MRSA and may be used as alternative option to antibiotics.

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Abbreviations

MRSA:

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Ch-NPs:

chitosan nanoparticles

Ag NPs:

silver nanoparticles

Ch-Ag NCs:

chitosan-silver nanocomposites

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Acknowledgments

Authors are greatly thankful to Dr. Khaled Y. Farroh for preparation and characterization of nanoparticles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt

    Eman I. Hassanen

  2. Microbiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt

    Eman Ragab

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  1. Eman I. Hassanen
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  2. Eman Ragab
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Both authors contributed equally to conceive the present research idea, performed the experiment, verified the results, drafted, and revised the manuscript.

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Hassanen, E.I., Ragab, E. In Vivo and In Vitro Assessments of the Antibacterial Potential of Chitosan-Silver Nanocomposite Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus–Induced Infection in Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 244–257 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02143-6

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