Engineered Bio-Silver Nanoparticle Interface Offers Antimicrobial Properties for Improved Cellular Viability
Issue Date
2016-08-31Author
VanOosten, Sarah Kay
Publisher
University of Kansas
Format
38 pages
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
M.S.
Discipline
Bioengineering
Rights
Copyright held by the author.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are promising candidates for fighting drug-resistant infections because of their intrinsic antimicrobial effect. The antimicrobial efficacy, shown as a result of high-yield design of AgNPs, may inadvertently cause variation in host cells biological responses. While many factors affect AgNP efficacy, their surface is exposed to the biological environment and thus plays a critical role both in preserving antimicrobial efficacy against pathogens, as well as preventing cytotoxicity for host cells. Our approach for controlling nanoparticle surface properties is built upon engineering a biomimetic interface that provides a competitive advantage. Here, we engineered a fusion protein featuring a silver-binding peptide domain (AgBP) to enable self-assembly with green fluorescence protein (GFP) to track assembly. Following AgNP functionalization with GFP-AgBP, their antimicrobial properties were evaluated in conjunction with their cytotoxic properties. GFP-AgBP binding affinity to AgNPs was evaluated using localized surface plasmon resonance. The GFP-AgBP biomimetic interface on AgNP surfaces provided sustained antibacterial efficacy at relatively low concentrations based upon bacterial (Streptococcus mutans) growth inhibition assays. Viability and cytotoxicity measurements in fibroblast cells (NIH/3T3) exposed to protein-functionalized AgNPs showed significant improvement compared to controls. Biointerface engineering offers promise toward tailoring AgNP efficacy while addressing safety concerns to maintain optimum cellular interactions.
Collections
- Engineering Dissertations and Theses [1055]
- Theses [3940]
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