Synthesis of silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial and anti-adherence activities against multidrug-resistant isolates from Acinetobacter baumannii

OBJECTIVES: The spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens poses a major health threat. Silver nanoparticles represent a new-class of antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study is the microbial synthesis of silver nanoparticles and the evaluation of their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. METHODS: Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using cell free supernatants of Acinetobacter baumannii. Silver nanoparticles were characterized by particle size analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were assessed. RESULTS: The silver nanoparticle synthesis was monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale yellow colour of the bacteria free supernatants into a dark brown colour. Silver nanoparticles had uniform spherical shape, with particle sizes ranging from 37 to 168 nm and a zeta potential of −11.7 mV. Acinetobacter silver nanoparticles were effective against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 3.1, 1.56 and 3.1 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, acinetobacter silver nanoparticles significantly reduced the attachment activities of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae by 66.6%, 86.5% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Silver nanoparticles, synthesized from Acinetobacter baumannii, inhibited microbial growth and eradicated biofilm assembly by multidrug-resistant isolates that were derived from uropathogenic infection. These results suggested the possibility of using silver nanoparticles as effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents against infections caused by resistant isolates.