Silver nanoparticles show promise in fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria

In a new study, scientists at the University of Florida have found that a combination of silver nanoparticles and antibiotics is effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The researchers hope to turn this finding into a viable treatment for certain types of antibiotic-resistant infections, which kill more than one million people worldwide each year. increase.

For centuries silver was known to have antibacterial properties. but, silver nanoparticles— silver microspheres small enough to work with cell level—represents a new frontier that uses precious metals to fight bacteria.

In this study, the researchers tested whether commercially available silver nanoparticles could enhance the potency of antibiotics, allowing these drugs to fight the very bacteria that have evolved to resist antibiotics.

“We found that silver nanoparticles and a common class of broad-spectrum antibiotics called aminoglycosides act synergistically,” said senior author of the study and director of the Department of Microbiology and Cell Sciences at UF/IFAS. Assistant Professor Daniel Czyż said.

“When combined with small amounts of silver nanoparticles, the amount of antibiotic required to suppress the bacteria was reduced by 22-fold, indicating that the nanoparticles make the drug more potent.” explained Czyż. “Furthermore, aminoglycosides negative side effectsUsing silver nanoparticles can reduce the dosage of antibiotics and reduce these side effects. ”

The findings were both surprising and exciting, said Autumn Dove, lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate studying microbiology and cell sciences at the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. said.

“When I first saw the results, my first thought was, ‘Wow, this is going to work,’” says Dove.

Over the last few decades, abuse of antibiotics has resulted in antibiotic resistant bacteria And a decline in the effectiveness of conventional antibiotic drugs, researchers say. The results of this study indicate that silver nanoparticles may update the efficacy of some of these drugs.

“Let’s say you get a bad burn on your hand and you get infected with one of these resistant strains,” Dove said. may be able to prevent it from spreading to other places.”

but Antibiotics It primarily targets bacteria, but can also damage human and animal cells. Using microscopic worms called C. elegans, researchers confirmed that silver nanoparticles made the antibiotic less toxic to cells other than bacteria.

Based on the study’s encouraging findings, the scientists next plan to seek FDA approval. clinical trial Patented silver-based antibacterial product in collaboration with UF Innovate nanoparticles.