Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Dots Coated CaCO3 Nanocarrier for Levofloxacin Against Multidrug Resistance Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Escherichia coli of Urinary Tract Infection Origin.

The multidrug resistance (MDR) Escherichia coli having Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) genes and the capacity to create a biofilm acts as a major reduction in the therapeutic effectiveness of antimicrobials. In search of a novel nanocarrier (NC) for targeted delivery of antibiotics, carbon dots (CDs) coated calcium carbonate nanocarriers (CCNC) from organic chicken eggshells conjugated with levofloxacin (Lvx) were synthesized. Our main objectives were to explore the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and NC potential of CDs coated CaCO3 Nanocarrier conjugated with levofloxacin (CD-CCNC-Lvx) to combat biofilm-producing MDR ESBL E. coli of urinary tract infection origin. The synthesized NC system was physiochemically characterized, validating the synthesis of CCNC and CD-CCNC-Lvx with a particle size of 56 and 14 nm, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed rod shape morphology. X-ray diffraction results discovered crystalline and dispersed nanoparticles. In vitro release drug kinetics illustrated sustained release of Lvx. NC system exhibited strong antibacterial and antibiofilm potential against E. coli with a noticeable low minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). MIC of CCNC was found to be 30 ± 0.1 µg/mL and CD-CCNC-Lvx was 20 ± 0.1 µg/mL for MDR ESBL-producing E. coli. The synergistic effect of NC upon conjugation with Lvx showed incredible activity with 30 mm zone of inhibition and 68% biofilm inhibition. Flow cytometry analysis revealed treated E. coli cells showed 58.69% reduction in cell viability. SEM images of treated bacterial cells showed morphological changes, which were also confirmed by our flow cytometry findings leading to cell membrane damage in E. coli. NC system also downregulated the blaCTX-M gene in E. coli. The hemolytic analysis proved biocompatibility with human red blood cells (RBCs). It is concluded that CCNC has the potential to be used as NC for target delivery of antibiotics and may combat toxicity of antibiotics as the inhibition of E. coli was noticed at low MIC concentration.

Modulation of agronomic and nutritional response of Pleurotus eryngii strains by utilizing glycine betaine enriched cotton waste.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of cotton waste enrichment with glycine betaine (GB) for production of two strains (P9, P10) of king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii). Cotton waste was used as (100%) control (T0 = cotton waste) and augmented with various combinations of GB, (T1 = 2 mmol L-1 , T2 = 4 mmol L-1 , T3 = 6 mmol L-1 , T4 = 8 mmol L-1 and T5 = 10 mmol L-1 ). The response of king oyster to GB was evaluated by earliness, yield, biological efficiency (BE), minerals (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca)), total sugars, total soluble solids, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, proximate (crude protein, carbohydrates, crude fibers, ash, fats) content of fruiting body and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis compared with the control substrate (cotton waste). RESULTS: The earliness, yield, and BE were higher as compared to control substrate and increased with an augmentation in the concentration of GB within the cotton waste. Two strains showed (on dry weight basis) 33.9-54.9 mg g-1 nitrogen, 6.8-12.5 mg g-1 phosphorus, 16.9-25.1 mg g-1 potassium, 40.5-64.2 mg kg-1 Zn, 17.1-37.3 mg kg-1 Cu, 1174-1325 mg kg-1 Mg, 20.1-29.1 mg kg-1 Mn, 129-265 mg kg-1 Fe, 779-835 mg kg-1 Ca), 6.3%-11.3% total sugars, 7.3-14.9 °Brix total soluble solids, 2.1-7.3% reducing sugars, 10.4-18.1% crude protein, 3.6-4.4% crude fiber and 5.6-16.7 mg (100 g)-1 on various concentration of GB enrich cotton waste. Cotton waste enriched with GB significantly affected nutritional profile of king oyster mushroom. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that GB enriched cotton waste can be used as an innovative substrate to enhance the yield and quality of king oyster mushroom. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.