Magnetite nanoparticles functionalized with propolis against methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have been evaluated for inhibiting microbial growth and biofilm for- mation. In this study the effect of the nanocomposite Moroccan propolis extract / MNPs acting against methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was evaluated. Chemical composition of propolis was established by pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry method (pyrolysis GC/MS). MNPs were obtained through the co-precipitation method. The fabricated nanostruc- ture was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (DRX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). TEM of MNPs provided a particle average size of 15 nm, FTIR spectral analysis enabled a fast way of identification of MNPs, attesting the occurrence of the different combinations. The use of MNPs loaded with propolis and the antibiotic chloramphenicol at Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value inhib- ited the bacterial growth of MSSA (methicillin susceptible strain of S. aureus ) and MRSA strains. After the treatment with MNPs-OA-P-CLo nanocomposite (MNPs with oleic acid, propolis and chloramphenicol), the disruption of the bacterial cell was observed by TEM. The combination of propolis and chlorampheni- col in free form at MIC value largely impaired both MSSA and MRSA strains as, after 2 h of treatment, no viable cells of MRSA 2 and MRSA 16 were recovered. Hence, the results elucidated a new antibac- terial nanocomposite synthesis, for possible applications as prospective nanoantibacterial agents or drug carriers.