Study of rifampicin and silver nanoparticle composite efficacy on rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains

One of the main directions of the innovative scientific research in the management of rifampicin-resistant Tuberculosis (RR-TB) is the discovery of sustainable inhibitors to restore the anti-tuberculosis efficacy of main and priority drugs. The aim of the study was to investigate in vitro inhibitory effect of rifampicin and silver nanoparticle composite on rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (RR-MTB) strains. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> RR-MTB cultures were supplemented with standard doses of rifampicin and suspension solution of 20 nm silver nanoparticles in 6 different concentrations: 0.25%, 0.5%, 5%, 1%, 2.5%, 10% (the composite of each concentration of silver nanoparticles was added to 50 RR-MTB cultures to determine the inhibitory effect on the growth of M. tuberculosis). The inhibitory effect of different concentrations of rifampicin and silver nanocomposite was evaluated according to M.tuberculosis growth rate using the BACTEC™ MGIT 960™ TB System. <b>Results:</b> The addition of rifampicin and silver nanocomposite to RR-MTB strains showed complete suppression of M.Tuberculosis growth in 51.4% of cases. Using 2.5% suspension of rifampicin standard dose and 20 nm silver nanoparticle demonstrated the bactericidal effect in 70% of cases; suspension with higher concentrations (5%, 10%) showed the bactericidal effect in 100% of cases. <b>Conclusion:</b> The study of the efficacy of silver nanoparticles and rifampicin nanocomposites in RR-MTB&nbsp;cultures has proved the potentiation effect of nanoparticles on rifampicin to repress pathogen resistance.