Usage of Silver Nanoparticles to Restore Rifampicin Efficacy for Rifampicin-Resistant M.Tuberculosis Cultures

Introduction: To prevent the drug-resistant Tuberculosis (TB) crisis in upcoming years, it is necessary to expand and update the drug base for the treatment of resistant TB through the synthesis of new anti-TB drugs and restoring the anti-TB efficacy of priority drugs using stability inhibitors. The aim of the study was the application of nanotechnology to investigate the recovery ability of the anti-TB efficacy of Rifampicin (R). Materials and Methods: Standard dose of R and 20 nm silver nanoparticle suspension solution(AgNPs) of 6 different concentrations: 0.25%; 0.5%; 1%; 2.5%; 5%; 10% were supplemented to 45 grown resistant RR- MTB cultures. The control group (35 RR-MTB isolates) was applied only with solutions of AgNPs of identical concentrations. The inhibitory effect of different concentrations of R and AgNPs was evaluated according to Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth rate using the BACTECTM MGIT 960TM TB System. Results: AgNPs solution (20 nm) of 2.5% (with or without R standard dose application) had a minimal in vitro inhibitory effect and AgNPs solution of 5% demonstrated a minimal in vitro bactericidal effect on RR-MTB strains. R standard dose and 2.5% of AgNPs (20 nm) nanocomposite increased an inhibitory effect up to 5% (total 75%) on RR-MTB strains in comparison with 2.5% of AgNPs (20 nm) supplement only (70%). Conclusion: The study of the effectiveness of nanocomposites on RR-MTB strains in vitro showed the potentiating effect of silver nanoparticles on R in overcoming the drug resistance of the pathogen.