Effective removal of biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii using chitosan nanoparticles loaded plant essential oils

Abstract

The current study focused on anti-biofilm property of chitosan loaded essential oils, which were obtained and evaluated against biofilm forming Acinetobacter baumannii. The results of agar well punctured method demonstrated its effeciency at 150 µg/mL concentration. The complete biofilm arrangement was demolished at 150 µg/mL concentration as suggested by quantitative invitro inhibition assay measurement. The biofilm metabolic cells lost their virulence, which was confirmed by color changes of XTT assay. Furthermore, the biofilm metabolic product inactivation was proved by congo red agar assay with the evidence of complete exopolysaccharide arrest. The interior and exterior portions of the chitosan loaded essential oils were completely damaged, as suggested by confocal laser scanning electron microscope and scanning electron microscope observations. Hence, all the invitro inhibition assays, and morphological examination confirmed that the biofilm forming Acinetobacter baumannii lost its virulence factors and its bacterial growth was eradicated efficiently.

Keywords

• Chitosan
• Essential oils
• Biofilm inhibition
• Metabolic activity degradation
• Exopolysaccharide cleavage
• Confocal laser scanning electron microscope