According to a recent study by the University of Florida, a blend of silver nanoparticles and antibiotics has successfully combatted antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The scientists behind the study aim to convert their discovery into an effective solution for various antibiotic-resistant infections, which claim the lives of over a million people worldwide annually.
The use of silver for its antimicrobial properties dates back centuries, but the application of silver nanoparticles, which are small enough to interact at the cellular level, opens up new possibilities for combating bacteria. The research team in this study investigated whether commercially available silver nanoparticles can enhance the efficacy of antibiotics, allowing them to target bacteria that have become resistant to these drugs.
Combination of Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics
The senior author of the study, Daniel Czyż, an assistant professor in the department of microbiology and cell science at UF/IFAS, stated that the research team discovered silver nanoparticles and aminoglycosides, a commonly used class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, work together synergistically.
Czyż argued that when a small number of silver nanoparticles were combined with the antibiotic, the required dose of the antibiotic to inhibit bacteria decreased by 22 times, indicating that the nanoparticles significantly increased the drug's potency. He added that aminoglycosides could cause negative side effects, and using silver nanoparticles could reduce the necessary dose of the antibiotic and, in turn, decrease these side effects.
The study's first author, Autumn Dove, a doctoral candidate in microbiology and cell science at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UF/IFAS, expressed that the findings were both unexpected and thrilling. Upon seeing the results, Dove's initial reaction was surprise and excitement, "Wow, this works." The researchers mentioned that the overuse of antibiotics over the past several decades has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and decreased effectiveness of traditional antibiotic drugs.
Possible Treatment for Burn Wounds
However, the study results suggest that silver nanoparticles have the possibility of rejuvenating the efficacy of some of these drugs. Dove stated that the combination of silver nanoparticles and antibiotics could be used in treating burn wounds that become infected with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. According to her, this approach has the potential to not only cure the infection but also prevent the spread of the resistant bacteria to other parts of the body.
While antibiotics are primarily designed to target bacteria, they can also cause harm to human and animal cells. To confirm that combining silver nanoparticles and antibiotics would not increase the toxicity to non-bacterial cells, the researchers used the microscopic worm C. elegans. The results showed that the silver nanoparticles did not enhance the harmful effects of the antibiotic on non-bacterial cells.
As reported by Phys, based on the study's positive results, the scientists have plans to move forward by seeking FDA approval for clinical trials. They also intend to collaborate with UF Innovate to secure a patent for an antimicrobial product that utilizes silver nanoparticles.
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