Objective: The paper presents the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) when conjugated with Levofloxacin. The AgNPs used in this study were synthesized from silver nitrate using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent.
Materials and methods: Levofloxacin activity was determined by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and also the erythrocyte hemolytic assay determined the capability of conjugation to cause hemolysis in human erythrocyte.
Results: The synthesis of levofloxacin-AgNP conjugates was confirmed by ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) spectroscopy. A peak absorption value between 400-450 nm for the extract and the color change to dark brown were corresponding to the plasmon absorbance of AgNPs. On the other hand, levofloxacin-AgNPs could be effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The MICs of levofloxacin and levofloxacin-AgNPs were 12 and 10 µM, respectively.
Conclusions: These findings indicated that levofloxacin-AgNPs had an effective bactericidal activity against the bacterial MRSAs. This conjugation appeared to inhibit bacterial adaptive capabilities, which leads to inhibition of bacterial resistance.