Synthesis and Study of Bactericidal Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Bacteria Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections

Following the increased prevalence of microbial resistance against chemical antimicrobial agents, the biological effects of metallic nanoparticles have recently been studied by researchers. In this study, the antimicrobial effects of iron oxide nanoparticles made by chemical methods in different concentrations on bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections were investigated.

In this cross sectional- descriptive research, using chemical reactants and only by controlling the conditions and applying optimal conditions, Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical precipitation method and their bactericidal effects on the six common bacteria causing urinary tract infections was studied by agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of nanoparticles were also determined. In addition, the antibiotic resistance pattern of bacteria was investigated for antibiotics Gentamycin, Amikacin, Ampicillin, Nalidixic acid, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Sulfomethoxazole by disk diffusion method.

The iron oxide nanoparticle was made in a spherical shape with a diameter of about 60 nm. Bacteria had an extensive antibiotic resistance, but iron nanoparticles were effective on all 6 bacteria, and the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration to Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens were 0.32, 0.04, 0.02, 0.08, 0.04 and 0.02 and at 1.25, 0.08, 0.61, 32 0, 16.0 and 16.0 mg/mL respectively.

Iron oxide nanoparticles showed a wide spectrum of effects at very low concentrations against bacteria, and these nanoparticles could be considered as an appropriate candidate for the treatment of bacterial infections after extensive research.