Bi2O3 nanoparticles exhibit potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and the ability to overcome Ag-, ciprofloxacin- and meropenem-resistance in P. aeruginosa: the next silver bullet of metal antimicrobials?. (16th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pant, Bishnu D.; Benin, Bogdan M.; Abeydeera, Nalin; Kim, Min-Ho; Huang, Songping D.
• Is Part Of: Biomaterials science. Volume 10:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1523
• Page End: 1531
• Publication Date: 2022-02-16
• Subjects: Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1039/d1bm01844b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-4830

Abstract

Abstract : The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) toward the conventional antibiotics and Ag compounds has made the search for metallodrugs to combat AMR imperative. Bi compounds such as the one reported in this article may emerge as the next silver bullet of metal antimicrobials. Abstract : Antimicrobial resistance is a persistent threat to global public health. In order to combat the spread of pathogenic bacteria, numerous antimicrobial materials have been incorporated into wound dressings and medical devices such as implants and catheters. The most frequently utilized of these materials are Ag-salts and Ag-nanoparticles (AgNPs) due to their low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against common Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria such as P. aeruginosa . However, such Ag-based materials are limited to treating Gram-negative bacteria and prone to generating Ag-resistant phenotypes after only 7 consecutive exposures to these materials at a sub-inhibitory concentration. Here, we demonstrate α-Bi2 O3 NPs as potential replacements for such materials, i.e., α-Bi2 O3 NPs that exhibit potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (MIC = 0.75 μg mL −1 against P. aeruginosa ; MIC = 2.5 μg mL −1 against S. aureus ). Furthermore, these NPs are effective against Ag-resistant and carbapenem-resistant bacteria (MICs = 1.0 μg mL −1 and 1.25 μg mL −1, respectively) and also show a synergistic effect with meropenem (mero) in P. aeruginosa bacteria, allowing for the use of meropenem with smaller therapeutic doses (fractional inhibitory concentration = 0.45). Finally, unlike other materials that have been explored as effective antimicrobials, α-Bi2 O3 NPs do not contribute to the development of Bi-resistant phenotypes after 30 passages of consecutive exposure to a sub-lethal dose of such NPs. Our results demonstrate that Bi-based materials represent a critical tool against multidrug resistant bacteria and require greater attention within the community. We anticipate this study to inspire broader investigation into the use of other metal oxides as antimicrobial materials, particularly those that limit the development of resistant phenotypes.