NiZnFe2O3 Quaternary Alloy Nanoparticles to Evaluate Antibacterial Activity against Imipenem-Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) infections pose a significant threat to public health due to limited treatment options. Nanoparticles (NPs), particularly those with unique antibacterial properties, have garnered attention as potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics. In the present study, NiZnFe2O3 quaternary alloy NPs were synthesized via chemical co-precipitation and evaluated for their antibacterial activity against carbapenem-resistant isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae derived from urine samples. Using the agar diffusion method, the NPs exhibited promising antibacterial effects, with inhibition zones ranging from 17 to 21 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined to be 0.94 mu g/mL for K. pneumoniae and 0.46 mu g/mL for E. coli, while the corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were 1.875 mu g/mL and 3.75 mu g/mL, respectively. These results indicate a bactericidal mode of action, as evidenced by an MBC/MIC ratio of 4. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the potential of NiZnFe2O3 NPs as effective agents against carbapenemresistant pathogens commonly associated with urinary tract infections.