Keratin nanoparticles derived from feather waste for novel antibacterial delivery

The global rise of bacterial resistance demands innovative strategies to enhance antibiotic efficacy. This study investigates keratin nanoparticles (KNPs) derived from waste chicken feathers as sustainable drug carriers. Antibacterial activity of KNPs was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using antibacterial sensitivity assays, including disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration tests, while cytotoxicity was evaluated on human lymphoma cells. KNPs exhibited excellent biocompatibility, showing no cytotoxic effects on human cells or bacteria. Penicillin and vancomycin were successfully loaded onto KNPs at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 50 °C temperatures for 2 and 20-hour. Loading onto KNPs enhanced the antibacterial efficacy of penicillin and vancomycin by 4-fold and 3.8-fold, respectively, against S. aureus at 37 °C. Enhanced antibacterial efficacy was attributed to molecular interactions between keratin and penicillin, as demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. The analysis revealed that the β-lactam ring of penicillin was encapsulated within the keratin matrix, potentially shielding it from enzymatic degradation by penicillinase. This protective mechanism preserves the antibiotic's structural integrity and antibacterial activity. These findings highlight the potential of KNPs as effective drug carriers in combating resistance mechanisms. This research underscores the transformative role of sustainable biological macromolecules in modern medicine, offering a promising approach to combat antibiotic resistance.