Evaluation of Antimicrobial Potential of Cadmium Sulphide Nanoparticles against Bacterial Pathogens

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases and the increase in incidence of drug resistance among pathogenic bacteria have made the search for new antimicrobials inevitable. In the current situation, one of the promising and novel therapeutic agents could be the nanoparticles. In this study, antimicrobial susceptibility testing of CdS nanoparticles (pure and 1% Cu doped) was done against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles was assessed by well diffusion method. The tested concentration range of CdS nanoparticles was 1mg/ml to 100mg/ml and activity was determined by measuring the zone of inhibition. After the preliminary antimicrobial qualitative test, the MIC and MBC was determined. Cu doped CdS nanoparticles were more effective with MIC range 0.078-0.52 mg/ml as compared to pure CdS nanoparticles with range 0.15-0.83 mg/ml. The highest activity was observed against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC 0.078 mg/ml and E. coli was least susceptible with MIC 0.83 mg/ml. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study was also used to determine the effect of the nanoparticles on morphological changes of test microorganism.