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Capsule Independent Antimicrobial Activity Induced by Nanochitosan against Streptococcus pneumoniae

Alqahtani, Fulwah Y ; Aleanizy, Fadilah S ; El Tahir, Eram ; Alowais, Hessa ; Binkelaib, Assalh ; Alwathlan, Bdour ; Al-Bdrawy, Asmaa ; Håkansson, Anders P LU orcid and Alsarra, Ibrahim (2021) In Polymers 13(17). p.1-13
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, and other diseases, contributing significantly to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although it responds to antibiotics, their use is becoming limited due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, which necessitates the development of new therapeutics. Nanotechnology is used to counteract antimicrobial resistance. In this regard, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) made of natural, biodegradable, biocompatible, and cationic polymers such as Chitosan (CNPs) exhibit wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare CNPs, characterize their physiochemical characteristics: particle size (PZ), polydispersity index... (More)

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, and other diseases, contributing significantly to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although it responds to antibiotics, their use is becoming limited due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, which necessitates the development of new therapeutics. Nanotechnology is used to counteract antimicrobial resistance. In this regard, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) made of natural, biodegradable, biocompatible, and cationic polymers such as Chitosan (CNPs) exhibit wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare CNPs, characterize their physiochemical characteristics: particle size (PZ), polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential (ZP), and investigate their antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 (virulent serotype 4) and its capsular mutant (∆cps).

METHODS: CNPs were prepared at 1, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL concentrations using the ion gelation method. Then, PZ, PDI, and ZP were characterized using a Zetasizer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to visualize the CNP's morphology. Broth and agar dilution methods were used to assess their antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity of prepared NPs on A549 cells and their effect on pneumococcal hemolysis were also investigated.

RESULTS: Spherical CNPs were produced with PZ ranging from 133.3 nm ± 0.57 to 423 nm ± 12.93 PDI < 0.35, and ZP from 19 ± 0.115 to 27 ± 0.819. The prepared CNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against TIGR4 and its capsule mutant with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of 0.5 to 2.5 mg/mL in a non-acidic environment. The hemolysis assay results revealed that CNPs reduced bacterial hemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. Their mammalian cytotoxicity results indicated that CNPs formed from low concentrations of Chitosan (Cs) were cytocompatible.

CONCLUSION: Nanochitosan particles showed anti-pneumococcal activity regardless of the presence of capsules. They resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in bacterial hemolysis and were cytocompatible at a lower concentration of Cs. These findings highlight the potential of CNPs in the treatment of pneumococcal diseases.

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; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Polymers
volume
13
issue
17
article number
2924
pages
1 - 13
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • pmid:34502964
  • scopus:85114091276
ISSN
2073-4360
DOI
10.3390/polym13172924
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
29c0d2f2-d0ec-4792-85b6-394247c83f9b
date added to LUP
2021-09-16 09:44:33
date last changed
2024-06-29 17:24:24
@article{29c0d2f2-d0ec-4792-85b6-394247c83f9b,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, and other diseases, contributing significantly to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although it responds to antibiotics, their use is becoming limited due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, which necessitates the development of new therapeutics. Nanotechnology is used to counteract antimicrobial resistance. In this regard, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) made of natural, biodegradable, biocompatible, and cationic polymers such as Chitosan (CNPs) exhibit wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare CNPs, characterize their physiochemical characteristics: particle size (PZ), polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential (ZP), and investigate their antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 (virulent serotype 4) and its capsular mutant (∆cps).</p><p>METHODS: CNPs were prepared at 1, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL concentrations using the ion gelation method. Then, PZ, PDI, and ZP were characterized using a Zetasizer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to visualize the CNP's morphology. Broth and agar dilution methods were used to assess their antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity of prepared NPs on A549 cells and their effect on pneumococcal hemolysis were also investigated.</p><p>RESULTS: Spherical CNPs were produced with PZ ranging from 133.3 nm ± 0.57 to 423 nm ± 12.93 PDI &lt; 0.35, and ZP from 19 ± 0.115 to 27 ± 0.819. The prepared CNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against TIGR4 and its capsule mutant with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of 0.5 to 2.5 mg/mL in a non-acidic environment. The hemolysis assay results revealed that CNPs reduced bacterial hemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. Their mammalian cytotoxicity results indicated that CNPs formed from low concentrations of Chitosan (Cs) were cytocompatible.</p><p>CONCLUSION: Nanochitosan particles showed anti-pneumococcal activity regardless of the presence of capsules. They resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in bacterial hemolysis and were cytocompatible at a lower concentration of Cs. These findings highlight the potential of CNPs in the treatment of pneumococcal diseases.</p>}},
  author       = {{Alqahtani, Fulwah Y and Aleanizy, Fadilah S and El Tahir, Eram and Alowais, Hessa and Binkelaib, Assalh and Alwathlan, Bdour and Al-Bdrawy, Asmaa and Håkansson, Anders P and Alsarra, Ibrahim}},
  issn         = {{2073-4360}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{17}},
  pages        = {{1--13}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Polymers}},
  title        = {{Capsule Independent Antimicrobial Activity Induced by Nanochitosan against Streptococcus pneumoniae}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym13172924}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/polym13172924}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}