Biogenic selenium nanoparticles inhibit Staphylococcus aureus adherence on different surfaces.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Nosocomial infections are a significant global health concern, often stemming from bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on medical devices.
• Critically ill and immunocompromised patients are particularly vulnerable to these infections, which can also impair device functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of biogenic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) derived from Bacillus licheniformis JS2 as an antimicrobial coating for medical devices.
• To evaluate the SeNPs' ability to inhibit bacterial adherence and biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus on various surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Coating of polystyrene, glass, and catheter surfaces with Bacillus licheniformis JS2 derived SeNPs at a concentration of 0.5 mgSe/ml.
• Incubation of coated surfaces with Staphylococcus aureus under different conditions (4 °C for 24h in PBS; 37 °C for 72h in nutrient-rich medium).
• Quantification of bacterial load and microscopic analysis (confocal and electron microscopy) to assess bacterial adherence, micro-colony, and biofilm formation.

Main Results:

• SeNP coating significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus adherence and micro-colony formation on polystyrene, glass, and catheter surfaces.
• A reduction of over 60% in bacterial load was observed on glass and catheter surfaces coated with SeNPs.
• Microscopic analysis confirmed the inhibition of biofilm and micro-colony formation on SeNP-coated surfaces.

Conclusions:

• Biogenic SeNPs demonstrate potent antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus adherence and biofilm formation.
• Coating medical devices with these non-toxic SeNPs presents a viable alternative strategy for preventing biofilm-related infections.
• This approach holds potential for enhancing patient safety and improving medical device performance.