Synthesis, characterization, and biomedical applications (antibacterial, antibiofilm, anticancer and effects on hospital-acquired pneumonia infection) of copper titanium oxide nanostructures

Abstract

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is the second most common cause of nosocomial infections and is responsible for 15% of nosocomial infections, with a high mortality rate, which has led to increased concern and significant costs in healthcare settings. The most significant agents of HAP are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which create a biofilm that results in a resistant infection. We aimed to study the synthesis of Cu₂Ti₂O₅ nanoparticles, their effects on the growth and biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from respiratory infections, and their anticancer effects. In this study, for the first time, the Pechini method was used to synthesize Cu₂Ti₂O₅ nanostructures. The effects of nanoparticles on the growth and biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were evaluated using a microdilution broth and the microtiter plate method, and the cytotoxic effect of the nanoparticles on the A549 cell line was also assessed by MTT. The characteristics of the nanoparticles were confirmed through XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM techniques. Cu₂Ti₂O₅ showed a minimum inhibitory effect in concentrations of 156.25 to 625 μg mL⁻¹ for ten isolates of K. pneumoniae and 625 to 1250 μg mL⁻¹ for ten isolates of P. aeruginosa and at sub-MIC concentrations as well. It reduced the biofilms of K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa strains by 75% and 44.4%. The nanoparticles killed 50% of A549 cancer cells in 48 h at concentrations of 30 to 40 μg mL⁻¹ and in 24 h at concentrations of 200 to 250 μg mL⁻¹. The findings of this study show the antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-cancer effects of Cu₂Ti₂O₅ nanoparticles. Therefore, these nanoparticles can be considered potential antimicrobial candidates; however, these effects should be confirmed with more bacterial isolates.