Aluminium oxide nanoparticles inhibit EPS production, adhesion and biofilm formation by multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is a biofilm forming multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogen responsible for respiratory tract infections. In this study, aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) were synthesized and characterized by TEM and EDX and shown to be spherical shaped nanoparticles with a diameter < 10 nm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for the Al₂O₃ NPs ranged between 125 and 1,000 µg ml⁻¹. Exposure to NPs caused cellular membrane disruption, indicated by an increase in cellular leakage of the contents. Biofilm inhibition was 11.64 to 70.2%, whereas attachment of bacteria to polystyrene surfaces was reduced to 48.8 to 51.9% in the presence of NPs. Nanoparticles also reduced extracellular polymeric substance production and the biomass of established biofilms. The data revealed the non-toxic nature of Al₂O₃ NPs up to a concentrations of 120 µg ml⁻¹ in HeLa cell lines. These results demonstrate an effective and safer use of Al₂O₃ NPs against the MDR A. baumannii by targeting biofilm formation, adhesion and EPS production.

Keywords:

• Aluminium oxide nanoparticles
• Acinetobacter baumannii
• biofilms
• EPS

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).