Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Cold Plasma as an Antibiofilm Agent against Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolated from Acne

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized by cold plasma in inhibiting biofilm formed by Staphylococcus epidermidis both phenotypically and genotypically. The resultant AgNPs were characterized by using different parameters, color change, X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, feld emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. Moreover, their efficacy in inhibiting S. epidermidis biofilm was studied by the microtiter plate method. The results revealed that cold plasma succeeded in the synthesis of AgNPs with a size range of 10–20 nm. Markedly, the present findings indicated a significant decrease (P < 005) in the intensity of all tested biofilm alongside the down-regulation of accumulation-associated protein (aap) and AtlE in the presence of AgNPs as compared with non-treated cells. In conclusion, AgNPs synthesized by cold plasma acted as antibiofilm agents and could be used for pharmaceutical applications.

Keywords

• silver nanoparticles (agnps)
• cold plasma
• staphylococcus epidermidis
• biofilm