Evaluation of the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of novel salicylhydrazido chitosan derivatives impregnated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Two novel chitosan derivatives were prepared by incorporating salicylhydrazide into chitosan Schiff base (SCsSB) and chitosan (SCs). Two nanocomposites, SCs/TiO2-1% and SCs/TiO2-3%, were also prepared. Their structures were confirmed using elemental analyses, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX and TEM. Their antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities were arranged as: SCs/TiO2-3% > SCs/TiO2-1% > SCs > SCsSB > chitosan. SCs showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 1.95 μg/mL against A. niger which was comparable with that of Amphotericin B. SCs/TiO2-3% showed higher inhibition against S. epidermidis, S. aureus, S. pyogenes, P. aeruginosa and E. coli than Vancomycin. While, it showed comparable inhibition activity to that of Vancomycin against B. subtilis and P. mirabilis. SCs/TiO2-3% showed MIC values equal 0.48 and 0.98 μg/mL corresponded to 0.98 and 1.95 μg/mL of Amphotericin B against C. albicans, A. fumigatus and A. niger, respectively. SCs/TiO2-3% showed much lower minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) values, ranged between 1.95 and 7.81 μg/mL, than those of SCs, ranged from 62.5 to 125 μg/mL. SCs/TiO2-3% was safe on normal human cells. The modifiers and TiO2 nanoparticles incorporated into chitosan in one structure developed its performance. It is approach for attaining appropriate structures which are good competitors for antimicrobial agents.