AgCuB nanoparticle eradicates intracellular S. aureus infection in bone cells: in vitro

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of internalized bone infection. Internalized bacteria are shielded from the immune system and antibiotics causing complications of conventional antibiotic treatment. In this study, we investigate silver-copper-boron (AgCuB) nanoparticles (NPs) as a potential alternative to eradicate internalized bacterial infection without causing a harming effect on the host cells. The antimicrobial property, as well as the toxicity of the AgCuB NP’s, is reported as dose-dependent between 0 and 20 μg/ml. Our results showed that 1–5 μg/ml of AgCuB NPs significantly reduced internalized infection in osteoblast cells with a single dose of treatment. The host cell toxicity observed at 20 μg/ml is ten times higher than the effective antimicrobial dose.