Anti-ESBL investigation of chitosan/silver nanocomposites against carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In the present investigation functional chitosan/silver nanocomposites (CS/Ag NCs) were successfully synthesized and found to possess favorable antibacterial activity against extended spectrum beta-lactasame (ESBL) producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that the obtained CS/Ag NCs are constituted of highly crystalline Ag nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in an amorphous CS matrix material. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis provided structural information about CS/Ag NCs, revealing the formation of spherical cluster structures constituted of Ag NPs with size ranging from 6 to 18 nm embedded in the amorphous CS matrix. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Ag NPs and CS/Ag NCs were found to inhibit the ESBL producing P. aeruginosa at 80 µg/mL (76%) and 50 µg/mL (92%), respectively. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that P. aeruginosa experienced reduced cell viability and morphological cell membrane damage at desired MIC. The in-vivo toxicity effect of Ag NPs and CS/Ag NCs suggested an increased mortality rate when Artemia franciscana were exposed for 24 h to increasing concentrations of Ag NPs and CS/Ag NCs. Anti-ESBL activity and toxicity effect of CS/Ag NCs revealed that these NCs possess promising antibacterial properties to overcome numerous communicable bacterial strains.