Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Conjugated with Nisin: Improving the Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nanomaterials

Abstract

Microbial technology offers a green alternative for the synthesis of value-added nanomaterials. In particular, fungal compounds can improve silver nanoparticle production, stabilizing colloidal nanoparticles. Based on a previous study by our group, silver nanoparticles obtained using the extracellular cell-free extracts of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PchNPs) have shown antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, nisin—a bacteriocin widely used as a natural food preservative—has recently gained much attention due its antimicrobial action against Gram-positive bacteria in biomedical applications. Therefore, the aim of this work was to conjugate biogenic silver nanoparticles (PchNPs) with nisin to obtain nanoconjugates (PchNPs@nis) with enhanced antimicrobial properties. Characterization assays were conducted to determine physicochemical properties of PchNPs@nis, and also their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities were studied. The formation of PchNPs@nis was confirmed by UV-Vis, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy analysis. Different PchNPs@nis nanobioconjugates showed diameter values in the range of 60–130 nm by DLS and surface charge values between −20 and −13 mV. Nisin showed an excellent affinity to PchNPs, with binding efficiencies higher than 75%. Stable synthesized PchNPs@nis nanobioconjugates were not only able to inhibit biofilm formation by S. aureus, but also showed inhibition of the planktonic cell growth of Staphyloccocus aureus and Escherichia coli, broadening the spectrum of action of the unconjugated antimicrobials against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In conclusion, these results show the promising application of PchNPs@nis, prepared via green technology, as potential antimicrobial nanomaterials.