Facile synthesis and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles from Archachatina marginata shell as potential solution to antimicrobial resistance

Abstract The growing resistance to existing antimicrobial formulations poses a great concern for global public health and demand development of alternatives. Chitosan was synthesized from Archachatina marginata shell and characterized using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Energy Dispersive X Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and its antibacterial activity assessed against Staphlococcus aureus(-haemolytic and clinical strain), Staphylococcus saprophyticus DSM 18669, Escherichia coli 0157, Klebsiella pneumonia EO1 16S ribosomal RNA gene, and Salmonella typhi ATCC 13311. FTIR revealed hydroxyl, carbonyl and amide as the main functional groups. XRD identified crystalline features while SEM images indicated grainy surface with clustering of uneven particles with TEM images showed polygonal particles, rod-like structures and spherical voids on the surface with diameters ranging from 5.80 to 31.05 nm. EDXRF and EDS indicated calcium, carbon, and oxygen as main elements. Chitosan produced highest inhibition zone of 39 mm against Staphylococcus saprophyticus DSM while there was no effect on Salmonella typhi ATCC 1331 and Minimum inhibitory concentration was between 0.0781 and 0.3125 mg/mL for tested strains. Chitosan antibacterial activity compared favourably to Levofloxacin, a synthetic drug as a benchmark. This suggests that chitosan from Archachatina marginata shell is a potential antibacterial agent for multiple applications.