Our findings suggest that the alginate-coated nanocomposites investigated in this study have the potential to overcome the bacterial biofilm barrier. We report zero susceptibility to iron-oxide NPs capped with polyethylene glycol, suggesting that the capping agent plays a major role in enabling bactericidal ability in of the nanocomposite. Positive inhibition is reported for uncapped and alginate-capped iron-oxide NPs, and the corresponding MICs are presented. MIC of all compounds of interest was determined after 60-days of growth, to ensure thorough establishment of biofilm colonies. Investigations into susceptibility using the disk diffusion method were done after 3 days of biofilm growth and after 60 days of growth. Susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the NPs, NP-tobramycin conjugates, and tobramycin alone were determined in the PAO1 bacterial colonies. We also investigated alginate-capped iron-oxide NP-drug conjugates, with a practically unchanged hydrodynamic diameter of ~ 232 nm. Alginate capping increased the average hydrodynamic diameter to ~ 230 nm. We report bacterial inhibition by iron-oxide (nominally magnetite) nanoparticles (NPs) alone, having a mean hydrodynamic diameter of ~ 16 nm, as well as alginate-capped iron-oxide NPs.
aeruginosa infection still eludes investigators, despite the extensive research in this area.
Due to the ubiquity and high adaptability of this species, an effective universal treatment method for P. aeruginosa is the primary Gram-negative etiology responsible for nosocomial infections. Being the most common infectious species of the Pseudomonas genus, P. Novel methods are necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.