Curcumin Loaded Strontium Nanoparticles Exhibit Potent Antibacterial Activity Against Nosocomial Infection Causing Bacteria

Abstract

Nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens pose a severe global health threat, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize curcumin-strontium nanoparticles (CU-SrNPs) to enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of CU and evaluate their multifaceted bioactivity. CU SrNPs were successfully synthesized, with characterization confirming nanoscale size, favourable semi-crystalline structure, and stable encapsulation of CU via metal oxygen bonding. The NPs exhibited potent, concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, demonstrating exceptional efficacy in scavenging highly damaging hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion. Antimicrobial evaluations revealed broad-spectrum activity against key Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) pathogens. Notably, CU-SrNPs at 160 µg/mL showed superior efficacy to ciprofloxacin against S. aureus. Molecular docking studies provided a mechanistic rationale, indicating strong binding of CU to critical bacterial virulence factors and resistance enzymes, including P. aeruginosa LasB elastase (-5.8 kcal/mol), K. pneumoniae β-lactamase (-7.4 kcal/mol), and aureus ClfA (-6.6 kcal/mol). These results suggest CU-SrNPs function through a multi-target mechanism, combining direct antimicrobial action with anti-virulence and potential resistance-modifying effects. The findings position CU-SrNPs as a highly promising nano-therapeutic agent to combat antibiotic-resistant infections by enhancing curcumin's solubility, bioavailability, and multifaceted therapeutic potential.