article · International Journal of Molecular Sciences
The rise of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae has created a pressing need for alternative treatments. In response, gold nanoparticles were fabricated via green synthesis using an extract of the microalga Arthrospira platensis. Chemical analysis showed that ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids acted as capping agents, while physical testing confirmed the production of rod-shaped nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 134.8 nanometres and good colloidal stability. In laboratory testing, these nanoparticles displayed strong antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, achieving a minimum inhibitory concentration of 12 micrograms per millilitre and outperforming the control antibiotic tigecycline. An untargeted metabolomic examination of the algal extract identified 26 bioactive compounds. Subsequent computational docking and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that one specific constituent, compound 22, bound stably to the bacterial topoisomerase IV enzyme, suggesting a mechanism that disrupts bacterial DNA replication.
Bacterial resistance to standard antibiotics is a critical global health challenge that undermines the treatment of common respiratory infections like pneumonia. By combining green nanotechnology with natural microalgal extracts, this work demonstrates an alternative method for inhibiting Streptococcus pneumoniae. The identified bioactive compounds and stable nanoparticles offer promising avenues for developing new antimicrobials that target essential bacterial replication machinery.
This research could support the development of novel anti-pneumococcal therapeutics by pharmaceutical developers and biotechnology firms seeking alternative antimicrobial agents. Because the findings are based on laboratory synthesis, in vitro testing, and computational modelling, the work represents early-stage discovery research that requires substantial preclinical validation and formulation development before any real-world clinical application can be realised.
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The emergence of antibiotic-resistant <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> necessitates the discovery of novel therapeutic agents. This study investigated the antimicrobial potential of green-synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) fabricated using <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> extract. Characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of functional groups such as ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids in the capping agents, suggesting their role in AuNP stabilization. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the formation of rod-shaped AuNPs with a mean diameter of 134.8 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering, and a zeta potential of -27.2 mV, indicating good colloidal stability. The synthesized AuNPs exhibited potent antibacterial activity against <i>S. pneumoniae</i>, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12 μg/mL, surpassing the efficacy of the control antibiotic, tigecycline. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action, an untargeted metabolomic analysis of the <i>A. platensis</i> extract was performed, identifying 26 potential bioactive compounds belonging to diverse chemical classes. In silico studies focused on molecular docking simulations revealed that compound <b>22</b> exhibited a strong binding affinity to <i>S. pneumoniae</i> topoisomerase IV, a critical enzyme for bacterial DNA replication. Molecular dynamics simulations further validated the stability of this protein-ligand complex. These findings collectively highlight the promising antimicrobial potential of <i>A. platensis</i>-derived AuNPs and their constituent compounds, warranting further investigation for the development of novel anti-pneumococcal therapeutics.
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DOI: 10.3390/ijms251810090
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