Formulation and Evaluation of Bacteriocin-Fused Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract:

Bacteriocins are the natural antibiotics produced from the probiotic microorganisms, predominantly the Lactobacillus family and are proteinaceous in nature. The commercial exploitation of bacteriocin is facing from some drawbacks such as short stability period and low yield. So, to develop new strategies to overcome such hurdles is the need of the hour. One such approach is to incorporate bacteriocins in metallic nanoparticles. Nanotechnology proves to be a boon in the field of medical and engineering science. The present research focusses on the fusion of bacteriocins, produced and isolated from probiotic microorganisms with the silver nanoparticles. UV is used to characterize bacteriocin-fused nanoparticles. Effects of various temperature and pH conditions on the formation of nanoparticles are studied using visible spectroscopy. The disc- diffusion method is used to study the antimicrobial activity of bacteriocins and bacteriocin fused silver nanoparticles. As an indicator strain, Propniobacterium acnes was employed. Clindamycin is administered as a positive control, and sterile normal saline is utilized as a negative control. Scanning electron microscopic methods were used to conduct morphological studies.

Methods: Bacteriocins were obtained from the strains isolated from probiotic curd culture. Silver nitrate is procured from CDH and sodium borohydride is obtained from Qualigence.

Results: During UV-visible spectroscopic study, a wide range was seen between 24 and 48 hours at 400 and 600 nm, respectively. All three varying temperatures shows, a 600 nm and a 300 nm SPR peak. A pH of 4 was found to be the best as a robust SPR peak was observed 500 to 700 nanometers. Zone of inhibition was recorded as 32±0.0 mm and 37.5±0.3 mm of bacteriocins and bacteriocin fused silver nanoparticles respectively.

Conclusion: Nanoparticles fused with bacteriocins shows greater antimicrobial potential than bacteriocins or nanoparticles alone. Additionally they are even more stable.