Antivirulence activities of Rutin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is an infectious bacterium that is frequently found in healthcare settings and the community. This study aimed to prepare rutin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Rut-CS NPs) and assess their antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of S. aureus.

The synthesized Rut-CS NPs exhibited an amorphous morphology with a size ranging from 160 to 240 nm and a zeta potential of 37.3 mV. Rut-CS NPs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus strains. Following exposure to Rut-CS NPs, the production of staphyloxanthin pigment decreased by 43.31–89.63%, leading to increased susceptibility of S. aureus to hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, visual inspection of cell morphology indicated changes in membrane integrity and permeability upon Rut-CS NPs exposure, leading to a substantial increase (107.07–191.08%) in cytoplasmic DNA leakage in the strains. Furthermore, ½ MIC of Rut-CS NPs effectively inhibited the biofilm formation (22.5–37.5%) and hemolytic activity (69–82.59%) in the S. aureus strains.

Our study showcases that Rut-CS NPs can serve as a novel treatment agent to combat S. aureus infections by altering cell morphology and inhibiting virulence factors of S. aureus.