Effect of samarium oxide nanoparticles on virulence factors and motility of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Biofilm formation and quorum sensing (QS) dependent virulence factors are considered the major causes of the emergence of drug resistance, therapeutic failure and development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. This study aimed to investigate the effects of samarium oxide nanoparticles (Sm 2 O 3 NPs) on biofilm, virulence factors, and motility of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa . Sm 2 O 3 NPs were synthesized using curcumin and characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using broth microdilution method. The antibiofilm potential of Sm 2 O 3 NPs was also evaluated by crystal violet staining and light microscopy examination. Then, the effect of sub-MICs concentrations of Sm 2 O 3 NPs on the proteolytic and hemolytic activities of P. aeruginosa was investigated. Finally, the effect of Sm 2 O 3 NPs on various types of motility including swarming, swimming, and twitching was studied. Our results showed that Sm 2 O 3 NPs significantly inhibited biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa by 49–61%. Additionally, sub-MICs concentrations of Sm 2 O 3 NPs effectively decreased virulence factors including pyocyanin (33–55%), protease (24–45%), and hemolytic activity (22–41%). Moreover, swarming, swimming, and twitching motility remarkably was reduced after exposure to the NPs. The findings of this work showed that Sm 2 O 3 NPs have a high potential in inhibiting QS-dependent virulence of P. aeruginosa , which could be considered for antibacterial chemotherapy after further characterization. Graphical abstract