Synthesis of Penicillin Nanoparticle Conjugates and Its Functional Characterization against Resistant Bacteria

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing field of new therapeutic and diagnostic concept in all areas of medicine. Due to unique characteristics, nanoparticles are considered to have wide applications in detection of biomolecules, drug delivery and release. The discovery of penicillin in the 20th century was a breakthrough in the treatment of infections. However, gradual development of antibiotic resistant bacteria is producing severe global threat to infectious diseases. Nanoparticles (NPs) of TiO2, ZnO, silver, etc, are commonly known for their biocidal efficacy. Hence, NPs conjugated drug delivery has drawn attention for their greater efficacy, delivery and less toxicity. To combat antibiotic resistance, nanoparticles conjugated antibiotics might be an effective treatment approaches in future. Several strategies have been employed to conjugate antibiotics efficiently with nanoparticles. However, the efficacy and stability of nanoparticle conjugated antibiotics should be evaluated properly. In this research project we have taken an initiative to conjugate penicillin such as benzyl penicillin, ampicillin, etc with silver (Ag) nanoparticles using EDC/NHS or sodium borohydrate chemistry. The silver nanoparticle conjugated antibiotics will be evaluated for their stability and efficacy against multi drug resistance Bacteria. We have started to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at our own facilities followed by initial characterization using UV Visible Spectroscopy. Moreover, our collaborator at King Saud University has also provided AgNPs synthesized at their laboratory. Process development and validation for synthesis AgNPs are also going on. In the mean time, we have also initiated to screen the antibacterial activity of AgNPs co administration with ampicillin and with other antibacterial agents. A number of penicillin resistance bacteria have been isolated from clinical samples. These include both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Once we would be able to set up optimized method for synthesizing AgNps and synergistic activity of co-administrated penicillin with AgNPs, we will target to initiate AgNP-Ampicillin conjugation in the second phase.