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Turkish Journal of Biology

Abstract

Background/aim: The rising antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori requires the development of novel treatment approaches. Although natural products (e.g., juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone)) and metal antimicrobials (e.g., silver) hold some promise as alternatives, drawbacks like the toxicity and instability of these materials limit their clinical use. Combining juglone and silver with coordination bonds can overcome these drawbacks and yield a more effective antimicrobial complex.

Materials and methods: Juglone–silver (J–Ag) complex was synthesized, encapsulated into PLGA nanoparticles (J–Ag@PLGA), and coated with Eudragit (J–Ag@PLGA+eu). Structural and physicochemical properties of the produced samples were examined using MALDI-TOF MS, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopies; dynamic light scattering; electrophoretic light scattering; and scanning electron microscopy. While mass spectra confirmed the mass of the J–Ag complex produced, FTIR analysis confirmed J–Ag coordination (C–O and Ag–O bonding). The characterization of nanoparticles demonstrated uniform, spherical particles with enhanced colloidal stability following Eudragit coating. The antibacterial activity of the J–Ag complex and the nanoparticles was evaluated against H. pylori using microdilution tests, while the biocompatibility of the samples was tested on L929 cells with the MTT assay.

Results: The cellular viability rates of L929 cells substantially increased when the juglone molecule was conjugated with Ag. Moreover, J–Ag@PLGA and J–Ag@PLGA+eu formulations exerted biocompatibility superior to that of the free complex. The microdilution test results revealed that the J–Ag complex showed the highest anti-H. pylori effect. However, J–Ag@PLGA and J–Ag@PLGA+eu formulations also effectively inhibited bacterial growth. Since J–Ag@PLGA and J–Ag@PLGA+eu formulations could decrease their toxicity and protect them from degradation, the encapsulated form of the complexes was more convenient for their application in terms of H. pylori treatment.

Conclusion: J–Ag complex exhibited greater antibacterial activity compared to juglone. Encapsulation of the complex into nanoparticles facilitated controlled release of the J–Ag complex, revealed substantial H. pylori inhibition, and reduced the complex’s cytotoxicity. J–Ag@PLGA and J–Ag@PLGA+eu nanoparticles represent innovative and promising ways of treating H. pylori infections. This newly fabricated system can become a promising alternative for conventional antibiotics due to its outstanding antibacterial action, biocompatibility, and controlled release capacity.

Author ORCID Identifier

TURAL SAFAROV: 0000-0002-1432-1513

EMRAH ŞEFİK ABAMOR: 0000-0002-9174-4528

SERAP ACAR: 0000-0002-6662-6642

MURAT TOPUZOĞULLARI: 0000-0003-4435-7776

BÜKRE KIRAN ÜNER: 0000-0003-1644-9569

KÜBRA KARADAŞ: 0000-0001-7607-9307

SEÇİL KAYA: 0000-0001-6614-6641

ZİŞAN TOPRAK: 0009-0008-2334-6019

DOI

10.55730/1300-0152.2978

Keywords

Eudragit, Helicobacter pylori, juglone, nanoparticle, silver

First Page

339

Last Page

354

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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