Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Caesalpinia sappan Extract as Potential Novel Nanoantibiotics Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2015 Aug;15(8):5543-52. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2015.10204.

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been shown to be effective antibacterial agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this study, AgNPs were synthesized using Caesalpinia sappan extract as a reducing agent to convert Ag+ to AgNPs. Seven stabilizers (surfactants and polymers) were added during the reduction step to increase the colloidal stability and to enhance the antibacterial activity of the AgNPs. Spherical and amorphous particles were primarily observed, with estimated diameters ranging from 30.2 to 47.5 nm. X-ray diffraction confirmed the face centered cubic structures of the AgNPs. Among the employed stabilizers, the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against 19 strains of MRSA, followed by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, average molecular weight of 10,000). In contrast, the anionic surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaDDBS) did not exhibit any significant antibacterial activity, suggesting that the cationic surfactant head group contributed to the higher antibacterial activity of the AgNPs against MRSA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Caesalpinia / chemistry*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Diffusion
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / physiology*
  • Particle Size
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Reducing Agents / chemistry
  • Silver / administration & dosage*
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Reducing Agents
  • Silver