Conjugation of a WOW Peptide with silver nanoparticles to face the increase of antimicrobial resistance during COVID 19 pandemic

Abstract

Bacterial resistance is a difficult limitation in the treatment of infections. The potential antibacterial activity of WOW peptide conjugation with silver nanoparticles against selected pathogens is investigated in this study. The peptide WOW was created by combining two tryptophan subunits and one ornithine amino acid, and its purity was determined using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry were used to confirm the WOW peptide. Silver nanoparticles conjugated with WOW were created by adding WOW to a solution of silver nitrate in the presence of the reducing agent sodium borohydride. The yellow-brown color indicated the presence of WOW-AgNPs, which was confirmed by ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of WOW nanoparticles were determined using the micro dilution method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and ESBL Escherichia coli. The Erythrocyte Hemolytic Assay was used to assess the toxicity of nanoparticles conjugated with WOW. WOW alone was effective (MICs between 120 and 215 µgml-1) against both standard and resistant strains of bacteria. WOW –AgNPs, on the other hand, were more effective, with MICs ranging from 30 to 100 µgml-1 depending on the bacteria used. WOW -–after 30 minutes of incubation, silver nanoparticles at a concentration of 100 µgml-1 caused only 3% hemolysis in human erythrocytes.in conclusion, WOW –silver nanoparticles were found to have good antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Furthermore, the conjugate demonstrated low hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity. As a result, WOW conjugation with AgNPs is a promising treatment candidate for bacterial infection with low toxicity.