Synergetic Effect of Rifampin Loaded Mussel‐Inspired Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug‐Resistant Strain of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is among the top ten causes of death worldwide. The emergence of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) TB has been challenging to cure TB patients and control the airborne transmission. To ensure the effectiveness of rifampin (RF) in the treatment of MDR TB infection, new and safe silver nanoparticles were used in combination. In this study, polydopamine decorated silver nanoparticles (Ag‐PDA NPs) were synthesized under mild conditions in which antituberculosis drug RF was loaded. Subsequently, the antibacterial activity of different ratios of Ag‐PDA NPs/RF against MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests. MIC results showed a synergistic interaction between Ag‐PDA NPs and RF, and the optimal antibacterial effect against MDR strain of M. tuberculosis was at the mass ratio of 2 Ag‐PDA NPs : 8RF. In addition, RF loaded Ag‐PDA NPs (RF@Ag‐PDA NPs) were constructed and characterized. The results indicated that RF@Ag‐PDA NPs might be considered as promising nano drugs to inhibit the growth of MDR strain of M. tuberculosis and keep the potency of RF in clinical practice. Mussel‐inspired silver nanoparticles were synthesized under mild conditions and antituberculosis drug rifampin (RF) was successfully loaded. The synergistic antituberculosis effect of silver nanoparticles (Ag‐PDA NPs) and rifampin against multidrug‐resistant strains of M. tuberculosis was found.