Improving Antibacterial Activity of Methicillin by Conjugation to Functionalized Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Against MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a multi-drug-resistant crisis with significant mortality and morbidity and inflicts a heavy economic burden on scarce healthcare resources worldwide. Recent progress in nanotechnology has expanded the capability of designing and constructing nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes to treat bacterial infections. Twenty clinical isolates of S. aureus were identified based on the morphological and biochemical tests. Isolates subjected to bio-typing, disk diffusion method, and PCR of the mecA gene characterized the Methicillin resistance. Then, functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were conjugated to the Methicillin. FTIR analysis and SEM images illustrated the prepared nano-antibiotics. The functionalization of the SWCNTs and the acquisition of carboxyl groups by the nano-antibiotics were successfully confirmed. Interestingly, the antibacterial activity of functionalized Methicillin-loaded SWCNTs against the MRSA remarkably improved compared to the Methicillin alone and hence resulted in enhanced drug efficacy by antibiotics’ delivery.