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Supertool for Superbugs—Smart “Nano-ointment of Graphene Usnic Acid Nanoparticles” Against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMRs)

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Abstract

In the present study, usnic acid (UA) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized and loaded on the 2D structure of graphene (GN) by the physio-sorption technique. This UA-GN nanoconjugate was then suspended in the water-soluble ointment base and evaluated for antibacterial activity. Antimicrobial drugs and NPs can be used together against antibiotic resistance; this would facilitate the unique mechanism to kill the pathogens that are resistant to the antibiotics. The unique mechanism where GN raptures the cell wall of microbes and then UA penetrates into the cell wall and disrupts the metabolic function of the cell and thus cuts the energy power led to cell death. This unique method of bacterial cell death is limited to the affected area because it is applied in the form of topical preparations. The UA, NPs, and GN all together show a synergistic effect against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. In the current study, nano-ointment of usnic acid NP’s graphene nanoconjugate (UGNC) showed an enhanced effect to kill the pathogens with the triple action of combination therapy with US, NPs, and their conjugate with GN. In vivo antibacterial activity of UGNC nano-ointment on Wistar albino rats shows a significant positive outcome despite hindrance in the in vitro dissolution profile, and it is better that the marketed formulation has the steroid.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the United Institute of Pharmacy, Prayagraj, for providing an animal house facility to accommodate the animals and carrying out the pharmacological activity and to the Institute of Pharmacy, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam University, for supervising the interpretation of the data.

Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacy, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam University, Indore, 452016, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Pradeep Kumar Vishwakarma & Revathi A. Gupta

  2. Chameli Devi Institute of Pharmacy, Indore, 452020, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Gaurav Jain

  3. United Institute of Pharmacy, Prayagraj, 211010, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Shanti Bhushan Mishra

  4. NRI Institute of Pharmacy, Bhopal, 462022, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Khushboo Vishwakarma

Authors
  1. Pradeep Kumar Vishwakarma
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  2. Revathi A. Gupta
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  3. Gaurav Jain
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  4. Shanti Bhushan Mishra
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  5. Khushboo Vishwakarma
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Contributions

PKV has worked on the all-experimental work and written the manuscript. RAG and SBM have supervised and reviewed all experimental work and statistical analysis. GJ and KhV have prepared figures and graphics. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pradeep Kumar Vishwakarma.

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Research Involving Humans and Animals

Authors have followed all applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals. The animal studies were accomplished according to CPCSEA guidelines. The animal studies were approved (Approval No. UIP/IAEC/Sept-2020/07) by the IAEC of the United Institute of Pharmacy, Prayagraj, India.

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Highlights

The concept of this fundamental research is to breach the pathogen’s cell walls and then deliver the antimicrobial drugs to their cells, leading to cell death.

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Vishwakarma, P.K., Gupta, R.A., Jain, G. et al. Supertool for Superbugs—Smart “Nano-ointment of Graphene Usnic Acid Nanoparticles” Against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMRs). BioNanoSci. 13, 1231–1242 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-023-01153-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-023-01153-7

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