Bioactive nano-metal–organic frameworks as antimicrobials against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Abstract

More effective antibiotics are needed to overcome the problem of multidrug resistance. The antibacterial efficacies of three Zn-based nano metal–organic frameworks (nMOFs) – IRMOF-3, MOF-5, and Zn-BTC – were explored, both alone and as mixtures with ampicillin and kanamycin. When tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus lentus, and Listeria monocytogenes, the nMOF/drug mixtures demonstrated synergistic (IRMOF-3/kanamycin) or additive (other nMOF/drug combinations) effects compared with the nMOFs or antibiotics alone. Zn-Based nMOFs can reduce the burden of the new discovery of antimicrobial pharmaceuticals by increasing the potency of existing antibiotics.