Impact of Chromium Oxide Nanoparticles on Growth and Biofilm Formation of Persistence Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates

Abstract

Bacterial persistence is recognized as a major cause of antibiotic therapy failure, causing biofilms and chronic intractable infections. The emergence of persisters in K. pneumoniae isolates has become a worldwide public health concern. Despite this clinical threat, currently, there are no viable means for eradicating K. pneumoniae persisters. In this project, chromium oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized by the photochemical method. The morphology, topographic and physical properties of nano-synthesized were described by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV. vis) measurements. The obtained average size of Cr2O3-NPs was to be ranging from 11 to 30 nm. The activities of the Cr2O3-NPs for antibacterial and antibiofilm formation against persistent K. pneumoniae were assessed. The result showed a significant inhibitory effect of Cr2O3-NPs against K. pneumoniae. A, where the zones of inhibition were 12-18 mm, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 625 μg/mL. The concentration of Cr2O3-NPs of 10 mg/mL demonstrated the highest inhibition activity against biofilm formation (73.95 ± 2.17%), indicating the lowest inhibition (19.08 ± 1.32%) at a level of 0.625 mg/mL. Cr2O3-NPs therefore had a positive impact on biofilms that were produced by persistence isolates of K. pneumoniae.

Keywords

• cr2o3-nps
• photochemical method
• persistence klebsiella pneumoniae
• antibacterial
• antibiofilm