Silver Nanoparticles as an Effective Antimicrobial against Otitis Media
Pathogens
Abstract
Otitis Media (OM) is the most common reason for U.S. children to receive
prescribed oral antibiotics, leading to potential to cause antibiotic
resistance. To minimize oral antibiotic usage, we developed
polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-PVP), which
completely eradicated common OM pathogens, i.e., Streptococcus
pneumoniae and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) at
1.04µg/mL and 2.13µg/mL. The greater antimicrobial efficacy against
S. pneumoniae was a result of the
H2O2-producing ability of S.
pneumoniae and the known synergistic interactions between
H2O2 and AgNPs. To enable the sustained
local delivery of AgNPs-PVP (e.g., via injection through perforated
tympanic membranes), a hydrogel formulation of 18%(w/v)P407 was
developed. Reverse thermal gelation of the AgNPs-PVP-P407 hydrogel could
gel rapidly upon entering the warm auditory bullae and thereby sustained
release of antimicrobials. This hydrogel-based local delivery system
completely eradicated OM pathogens in vitro without cytotoxicity, and
thus represents a promising strategy for treating bacterial OM without
relying on conventional antibiotics.