Delafloxacin-Capped Gold Nanoparticles (DFX-AuNPs): An Effective Antibacterial Nano-Formulation of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic

Abstract

New antibiotics are seen as 'drugs of last resort' against virulent bacteria. However, development of resistance towards new antibiotics with time is a universal fact. Delafloxacin (DFX) is a new fluoroquinolone antibiotic that differs from existing fluoroquinolones by the lack of a protonatable substituent, which gives the molecule a weakly acidic nature, affording it higher antibacterial activity under an acidic environment. Furthermore, antibiotic-functionalized metallic nanoparticles have been recently emerged as a feasible platform for conquering bacterial resistance. In the present study, therefore, we aimed at preparing DFX-gold nano-formulations to increase the antibacterial potential of DFX. To synthesize DFX-capped gold nanoparticles (DFX-AuNPs), DFX was used as a reducing and stabilizing/encapsulating agent. Various analytical techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, TEM, DLS, FTIR and zeta potential analysis were applied to determine the properties of the synthesized DFX-AuNPs. The synthesized DFX-AuNPs revealed a distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 530 nm and an average size of 16 nm as manifested by TEM analysis. In addition, Zeta potential results (-19 mV) confirmed the stability of the synthesized DFX-AuNPs. Furthermore, FTIR analysis demonstrated that DFX was adsorbed onto the surface of AuNPs via strong interaction between AuNPs and DFX. Most importantly, comparative antibacterial analysis of DFX alone and DFX-AuNPs against Gram-negative (<i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>) and Gram-positive (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>) verified the superior antibacterial activity of DFX-AuNPs against the tested microorganisms. To sum up, DFX gold nano-formulations can offer a promising possible solution, even at a lower antibiotic dose, to combat pathogenic bacteria.