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Journal of Medical Microbiology logo Journal of Medical Microbiology

Volume 62, Issue 1

Synergistic bactericidal activity between hyperosmotic stress and membrane-disrupting nanoemulsions No Access

Abstract

There is a clear clinical need for alternative types of non-antibiotic biocides due to the rising global health concern of microbial drug resistance. In this work, a novel antibacterial concept was delineated that utilized hyperosmotic stress (H) in concert with membrane-disrupting nanoemulsions (NEs). The antibacterial effects of either H or a NE, as well as in combination (H+NE), were assessed using an model. It was found that exposure to H or NE alone produced dose-dependent bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects, respectively. However, the bactericidal action of NE was significantly amplified in the presence of H. Outcomes following H+NE exposure included rapid efflux of K and nucleic acids, increased membrane permeability and a reduction in both intracellular ATP and cell viability. Further inspection of morphology by electron microscopy highlighted cell shrinkage, membrane dissolution and bacteriolysis. Pathogen inactivation occurred immediately upon contact with H+NE. The effects of H, NE and H+NE against , and meticillin-resistant isolates were also examined. Similar to the model, H+NE showed antibacterial synergism in these organisms when classified by the Chou–Talalay combination index for two-agent interactions. This synergistic interaction suggests that the H+NE platform may potentially serve as a new paradigm in disinfectants, antiseptics and antibacterial wound dressings. The H+NE mechanism of action was termed osmopermeation, as a descriptor for the underlying inactivation process.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
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© 2013 SGM
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/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.047811-0
2013-01-01
2025-01-14
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/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.047811-0
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Synergistic bactericidal activity between hyperosmotic stress and membrane-disrupting nanoemulsions
J. Med. Microbiol. 62, 69 (2013); https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.047811-0
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.047811-0
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.047811-0
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