Evaluation of anti-biofilm properties of Mentha piperita essential oils loaded in chitosan nanoparticles against Acinetobacter baumannii in the Catheter surface

Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii pose an increasingly severe threat. Finding new therapeutic strategies such as herbal remedies is a vital priority, especially in combination with nano gels which have recently been widely used in medical purposes and drug delivery systems.Objective In this study, evaluated the physicochemical properties and effects of mutagenicity synthesizing Mentha Piperita Essential Oils loaded in chitosan nanoparticles (MPEO- CsNPs), which is referred to as an antimicrobial agent for inhibiting biofilm formation of Acinetobacter baumannii on the catheter surface.Method Mentha piperita essential oils loaded in chitosan nanoparticles (MPEO- CsNPs) and the physicochemical properties of MPEO-CsNPs were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Differential Calorimetry Scanning (DCS). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and the Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC50) of MPEO- CsNPs against the standard strain of Acinetobacter baumannii were investigated. The amount of biofilm formation in the presence and absence of MPEO- CsNPs on the catheter surface was analyzed. The bap gene expression was studied as the primary leading indicator of biofilm formation using the real-time PCR technique. The effects of mutagenicity according to the Ames test were investigated.Results The results showed that the synthesized MPEO- CsNPs at equivalent concentrations had lower MIC than sodium azide. MIC and MBC levels were reported to be 3.12 and 12.48 µg / ml, respectively. MBIC50 was calculated to be 2.69%, which it was approximately twofold compared to the control that was treated with no MPEO concentration. The adherence of bacterial cells to the catheter surface had high sensitivity to the MPEO- CsNPs, while when treated with unloaded CNPs, it had no inhibitory effect on adherence activity. It was observed that with increasing the concentration of the MPEO- CsNPs, expression of the bap gene decreased.Conclusion This study showed that chitosan-peppermint nanoparticles could be used as a safe, compatible, and preventive coating in the design and manufacture of hospital catheters and other medical devices.