Authors: G. Bhargavi, Ishita Matai, Abhay Sachdev, S. Uday Kumar, and P. Gopinath

University/Institute: Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute

of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India

http://www.iitr.ac.in/campus_life/pages/Facilities+Dairy_Report.html

Abstracts:

The rampant increase of antibiotic resistant microorganisms has stressed the need to strengthen the current therapies or search for other potential treatments. Use of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles with distinct morphologies such as chitosan nanorods (CHNRs) possessing antibacterial properties offers a promising solution to the problem of bacterial infections. The present study emphasizes simple and facile synthesis of CHNRs by ionotropic gelation method utilizing microwave assisted reactions. The synthesis procedure involves use of anhydrous sodium sulfate as an anionic cross linker between linear chitosan polymers. Nanoparticle formation was determined by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis. Morphology, size and stability estimations were done by electron microscopy and zeta potential measurements. Electron Microscopic analysis elucidated the formation of chitosan nanorods of average size 200 nm. Zeta potential study of the synthesized CHNRs showed their excellent stability with a +ve surface charge of +63 mV. The antibacterial potential of the synthesized CHNRs was evaluated against green fluorescent protein expressing Escherichia coli (E.coli). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum killing concentration (MKC) of the nanorods determined by visual turbidity analysis was 30 _L/mL and 40 _L/mL, respectively. Bactericidal potential of the CHNRs was further investigated by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Excellent antibacterial activities at low concentrations of CHNRs against antibiotic resistant E.coli suggest its potential application as a biodegradable antimicrobial agent.

Links to the paper (link to the journal webpage): http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asp/jcc/2013/00000001/00000003/art00001?crawler=true