Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of aminoglycoside-conjugated silica nanoparticles against clinical and resistant bacteria

Functionalization of silica nanoparticles with different cationic moieties makes them suitable for being an effective antimicrobial agent against various clinical pathogenic microbes. Here, we report the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of aminoglycoside-conjugated silica nanoparticles [S–X NPs, where X = gentamicin (G), neomycin (N) or kanamycin (K)] for their antimicrobial activity against clinical pathogens and kanamycin-resistant E. coli. These functionalized silica nanoparticles exhibited enhanced broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against clinical Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as kanamycin-resistant E. coli strain with minimal cytotoxicity. The results show the potential of these conjugates to combat drug resistance.