Transient comparison of techniques to counter multi-drug resistant bacteria: prime modules in curation of bacterial infections

Fragment optimized chalcone derivatives targeting OmpA protein as a therapeutic approach against multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii is a notorious pathogen associated with life-threatening infections, with its outer membrane protein A (OmpA) being a key contributor to its pathogenicity by targeting epithelial cell apoptosis. The study presents an in silico analysis of chalcone derivatives as potential therapeutic agents against the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Acinetobacter baumannii. We performed molecular docking to evaluate the binding interactions, revealing that isobavachalcone exhibited the highest binding affinity. Further fragment optimization (FOI) of isobavachalcone improved its binding energy. Additionally, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analysis was conducted to assess the pharmacokinetic properties of the compounds. Antigenicity and allergenicity of the protein show that this protein is virulent and antigenic. Moreover, molecular docking was performed and the result shows that isobavachalcone showed the highest binding energy at -6.7 kcal/mol. Furthermore, for a more potent compound, fragment optimization was performed and led to a new lead compound fragment optimized isobavachalcone (FOI) which shows increased binding energy -6 kcal/mol. ADMET and toxicity analysis was performed of both the compounds isobavachalcone and FOI which revealed favorable pharmacokinetic profiles for both compounds, but toxicity analysis showed discrepancies, with the isobavachalcone exhibiting toxicity but FOI compound showing no detectable toxicity. This underscores the importance of structure optimization in drug development. Overall, chalcone derivatives show promise as antibacterial agents against A. baumannii, with computational analyses aiding in compound selection and optimization. While both isobavachalcone and its FOI showed favorable pharmacokinetics, in vivo and in vitro validation is needed to confirm their therapeutic potential.

In vitro evaluation of silver-zinc oxide-eugenol nanocomposite for enhanced antimicrobial and wound healing applications in diabetic conditions

Diabetic wounds with chronic infections present a significant challenge, exacerbated by the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance, which often leads to delayed healing and increased morbidity. This study introduces a novel silver-zinc oxide-eugenol (Ag+ZnO+EU) nanocomposite, specifically designed to enhance antimicrobial activity and promote wound healing. The nanocomposite was thoroughly characterized using advanced analytical techniques, confirming its nanoscale structure, stability and chemical composition. The Ag+ZnO+EU nanocomposite demonstrated potent antimicrobial efficacy against a range of wound associated pathogens, including standard and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of Ag+ZnO+EU for standard and clinical isolates were significantly lower than those of the individual components, highlighting the synergistic effect of the nanocomposite. Time-kill assays revealed rapid microbial eradication, achieving complete sterility within 240-min. Importantly, the nanocomposite effectively eliminated persister-like cells, which are typically resistant to conventional treatments, suggesting a potential solution for persistent infections. In vitro scratch assays using human keratinocyte cells demonstrated that the Ag+ZnO+EU nanocomposite significantly accelerated wound closure, with near-complete healing observed within 24-h, indicating enhanced cell migration and tissue regeneration. Additionally, the nanocomposite showed potential antidiabetic effects by increasing glucose uptake up to 97.21% in an in vitro assay using 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose, a fluorescent glucose analog, suggesting potential applications beyond wound healing. These findings highlight the Ag+ZnO+EU nanocomposite as a promising candidate for addressing both antimicrobial resistance and impaired wound healing in diabetic contexts.

Biosynthesis and biological activities of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles using Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract

The synthesis of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (Mg(OH)2 NPs) using plant extracts are known to be a practical, economical, and an environmentally friendly approach. In this work, Mg(OH)2 NPs were synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia, a medicinal plant commonly found in India. The synthesized Mg(OH)2 NPs were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption peak of the Mg(OH)2 NPs was detected at 289 nm, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the presence of various functional groups, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed the well-crystallized structure of the Mg(OH)2 NPs. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses depicted spherical morphology and an average particle size (PS) of 27.71 nm. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the presence of C, O, and Mg elements, and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) survey spectrum confirmed the elements for the Su 1 s peak at 280.2 eV. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis displayed an average PS of 54.3 nm, and the Zeta potential (ZP) was of 9.89 mV. The fabricated Mg(OH)2 NPs displayed notable antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis, E. coli, and S. aureus. In addition, these NPs exhibited strong antioxidant properties (> 75%) based on DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) assays. Further, the same NPs exerted a potent anti-inflammatory activity (> 65%) based on COX-1 and COX-2 evaluations. The anti-Alzheimer' disease (AD) potential of Mg(OH)2 NPs was assessed through effective inhibition (> 70%) of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities. Molecular docking (MD) studies confirmed that caryophyllene has higher binding affinity with AChE (-5.3 kcal/mol) and BuChE (-6.4 kcal/mol) enzymes. This study emphasizes the green synthesis of Mg(OH)2 NPs using T. cordifolia as a plant source and highlights their potential for biomedical applications.