title: Non-cytotoxic nanomaterials enhance antimicrobial activities of cefmetazole against multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
abstract: The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has led to difficulties in treating patients, and novel strategies to prevent and treat this infection are urgently needed. Here, we examined 21 different nanomaterials for their potential activity against N. gonorrhoeae (ATCC 49226). Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs, 120 nm) showed the greatest potency for reducing N. gonorrhoeae colony formation (MIC: 12.5 µg/ml) and possessed the dominant influence on the antibacterial activity with their properties of the nanoparticles within a concentration range that did not induce cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts or epithelial cells. Electron microscopy revealed that the Ag NPs significantly reduced bacterial cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, the use of clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae showed that combined treatment with 120 nm Ag NPs and cefmetazole produced additive effects. This is the first report to screen the effectiveness of nanomaterials against N. gonorrhoeae, and our results indicate that 120 nm Ag NPs deliver low levels of toxicity to human epithelial cells and could be used as an adjuvant with antibiotic therapy, either for topical use or as a coating for biomaterials, to prevent or treat multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lan-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Muh-Yong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Chao-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chien-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pawan Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Maurya
authors.forename: Pai-Shan
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wan-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Huei-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015311:Cefmetazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008954:Models, Biological; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007477:Ions; D015311:Cefmetazole; D012834:Silver