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. 2019 Dec 13;4(26):21914–21920. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b02908

Activating a Silver Lipoate Nanocluster with a Penicillin Backbone Induces a Synergistic Effect against S. aureus Biofilm

Humberto H Lara †,*, David M Black ‡, Christine Moon §, Elizabeth Orr §, Priscilla Lopez ‡, Marcos M Alvarez §,*, Glen Baghdasarian §, Jose Lopez-Ribot †, Robert L Whetten ∥,*
PMCID: PMC6933807  PMID: 31891070

Abstract

graphic file with name ao9b02908_0002.jpg

Many antibiotic resistances to penicillin have been reported, making them obsolete against multiresistant bacteria. Because penicillins act by inhibiting cell wall production while silver particles disrupt the cell wall directly, a synergetic effect is anticipated when both modes of action are incorporated into a chimera cluster. To test this hypothesis, the lipoate ligands (LA) of a silver cluster (Ag29) of known composition (Ag29LA12)[3−] were covalently conjugated to 6-aminopenicillanic acid, a molecule with a β-lactam backbone. Indeed, the partially conjugated cluster inhibited an Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, in a dose–response manner, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 of 2.3 μM, an improvement over 60 times relative to the unconjugated cluster (IC50 = 140 μM). An enhancement of several orders of magnitude over 6-APA alone (unconjugated) was calculated (IC50 = 10 000 μM). Cell wall damage is documented via scanning electron microscopy. A synergistic effect of the conjugate was calculated by the combination index method described by Chou–Talalay. This hybrid nanoantibiotic opens a new front against multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Introduction

Bacterial infections are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and in most cases the principal isolate is Staphylococcus.1 The main characteristic of Staphylococcus aureus is its capability to easily gain resistance against almost all antimicrobials.2 6-APA is the nucleus and the precursor for creation of semisynthetic penicillins.3 Penicillin acts against susceptible S. aureus by targeting the transpeptidase that catalyzes the last stage in the bacterial cell wall biosynthesis (peptidoglycan). The bacterial cell wall is the rigid structure that maintains the characteristic form of the bacteria and shelters against osmotic cell lysis.4 Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most studied antimicrobials in nanotechnology demonstrating potent broad-spectrum activity.5,6 The AgNP targets permeability of the bacterial cell membrane, then after penetrating the cell, alters sulfur-containing amino acids and phosphorus (DNA), hindering replication. Previous research based on advanced electron microscopy showed that the positively charged AgNPs induce wall thinning, pore formation, leakage of cell content, and finally cause cell lysis.7−9 Once inside the cell, the silver nanoparticles fall apart and generate highly reactive silver species responsible for antimicrobial activity.5,10−13

A silver cluster comprising 29 Ag atoms and 12 lipoate ligands (hydrodynamic diameter of 3 nm) was recently reported to be active against methicillin-resistant S. aureus bacteria (MRSA) and preformed Candida albicans biofilms.14 However, the modest inhibitory concentrations reported in that study (140 μM level) limit the use of the clusters to biomedical applications. Although small, the cluster has a 13-atom metallic icosahedral core responsible for the antimicrobial activity. Further size reduction results in inert nonmetallic oligomeric structures that exhibit reduced activity.15 Conversely, larger silver particles (D > 10 nm) have a larger metallic core and are known to inhibit at lower concentrations (IC50 0.4–3.2 μg/mL).16,17 However, small silver particles (D < 6 nm) afford advantages of enhanced stability and renal clearance with rapid and efficient urinary excretion.18−21

A promising approach to enhance the antimicrobial activity of the cluster is to conjugate its ligands to a penicillin nucleus.3 As a proof of concept, 12 pendant carboxylates of lipoic acid ligands in Ag12(LA)12[3−] may be covalently coupled (conjugated) to a penicillin nucleus known as 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA). An intermediate of penicillin biological degradation,22,23 6-APA itself is ineffective but retains the essential β-lactam backbone structure. The conjugated cluster is, thus, expected to combine both the mode of action of penicillins (inhibition of biosynthesis of cell wall mucopeptide)24 and the mode of action of silver nanoparticles (cell wall disruption and lysis) while retaining the advantage of rapid kidney elimination exhibited in vivo by small clusters.21

Results and Discussion

Chemistry

Claims of covalently conjugating penicillin to nanoparticles abound in the literature.25−29 However, in most cases, proof of conjugation is provided only indirectly through bioassays because large nanoparticles are not amenable to analysis by mass spectrometry, the most useful analytical technique for quantifying conjugation. For that reason, the few reports that provide direct evidence of linkage through an amide bond are for small clusters.30,31 One of the earliest reports demonstrated that a known gold cluster molecule (“Undecagold” Au11(PPh3)7I3) could be obtained in a water-soluble form and modified by conjugation of the Ph*-groups to biomolecular groups.32 It formed abundantly because it has eight (8) extra or “free” electrons that occupy a closed-shell s2p6 configuration of globular “superatomic” orbitals.33 The 29-Ag cluster employed here as a starting reagent similarly exhibits an 8-electron closed-shell electronic structure responsible for its remarkable yield and stability that facilitates further processing, such as conjugation. R-α lipoic acid (LA or RALA), also known as thioctic acid, is a natural product (an enzyme cofactor essential to aerobic metabolism); as a dithiolate, it has a high affinity to noble metals (Au, Ag, ...). The Ag lipoate (29, 12) cluster is abundantly produced via a borohydride reduction, as summarized in Scheme 1:14,34−36

Scheme 1. Reduction of Silver Salt by Sodium Borohydride in the Presence of Lipoate (LA) Ligand under Alkaline Conditions.

Scheme 1

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LA and reducing agent are added in 2.5:1 molar excess relative to silver.

The chemistry for conjugating a carboxylate group to an amine group has been amply described in the literature.31,37,38 The major role that lipoic acid plays in biological reactions has motivated extensive research in conjugating it to molecules of therapeutic interest.39−43 The reaction employed in this study is summarized in Scheme S1 of the Supporting Information. Evidence of conjugation of 6-APA to the cluster is provided here (Figure 1B) by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The ESI-MS signal from the unconjugated cluster is observed at a mass-to-charge ratio that corresponds with isotopic resolution6,14 to its triply charge state [3−], as expected from its natural ionized state (Scheme 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Negative mode ESI-MS of the cluster (Ag29LA12)[3−] [∼5.6 kDa] before (A) and after (B) conjugation. (A) ESI-MS for the unconjugated cluster (triply charged) labeled with the number of 6-APA groups (p = 0, 1, 2, 3, ..., 7, 8, ... 12-max). The adducts in the first spectrum (no reaction) are sodium and triethylamine. (B) Evidence for the conjugation of up to eight lipoic acid ligands. The bare triply charged parent mass is observed at 1867.9 amu at 10% abundance. The remaining 90% of clusters are conjugated.

Like oligonucleotides, metal clusters show a propensity to form adducts; this is evident from Figure 1A that shows the presence of sodium and/or triethylammonium cations substituting the carboxylic hydrogen in the lipoic acid terminus. Nevertheless, the signal from the parent cluster dominates the spectra indicating that any antimicrobial activity is attributable to the Ag29LA12[3−] complex.

It is of interest to note that as expected when the spectrometer is operated in negative mode, the signal corresponds to some ligands being deprotonated (as lipoates) or, to a lower extent, neutralized by a cation adduct (lipoate salts). Solubility in aqueous solution requires the deprotonated charge state (lipoate). This observation is significant because pH plays a fundamental role in its conjugation chemistry and on its use as an antimicrobial agent.38,44 The cluster must remain in aqueous solution at physiological pH and ionic strength.

The cluster Ag29LA12[3−] was conjugated in a two-step process, as detailed in Schemes S1 and S2 of the Supporting Information and summarized in the Experimental Section. Crucially, the efficiency of the coupling reaction was increased remarkably using the free-base form of the coupling agent and by increasing the buffering capacity [2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, MES, 500 mM]. Much lower yields were observed when 50 mM MES was used, all other parameters being equal.

Post-reaction, the ESI-MS spectrum (Figure 1B) shows evidence that over 90% of the clusters are coupled to the penicillin precursor, i.e., the signal from the parent unconjugated cluster (N = 0) is less than 10% of the total signal (Figure 1B) as judged from integrating the areas under each peak. It is evident that up to 8 ligands per cluster have been conjugated out of a maximum of 12 ligands. The abundance from the conjugated clusters conforms to a slightly long-tailed distribution with a mean of 2.7 and a standard deviation of 1.6.

Partial conjugation at the level demonstrated in Figure 1 may be advantageous relative to full conjugation. The cluster remains water soluble (the conjugated ligands are less polar and nonionizable). In addition, the cluster retains the lipoic acid moiety that is compatible with the phospholipid bilayers of the pathogenic targets, an essential feature that allows the cluster to approach the cell wall and membrane. Indeed, these solubility effects are noticeable and put to good use in the workup procedure. The first steps of conjugation (Scheme S1) lead to the formation of a stable ester that precipitates from the reaction due to its lower solubility facilitating its isolation and the removal of isoureas side products and other impurities from the activation reaction. In addition, isolating the stable NHS [N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide] ester is important because it allows for the amidation reaction to occur at a higher more favorable pH.38

The solubility of the cluster also decreases as each free carboxylate anion is replaced by an amide bond as conjugation proceeds. The conjugated cluster precipitates from solution, and thus allowing the removal of additional impurities. Increasing the pH deprotonates unconjugated ligands and the cluster becomes soluble once again. Although the antibacterial action of the conjugated cluster is expected to increase with an increasing degree of conjugation, the advantages discussed above would be compromised. It is also important to note that higher reaction pH minimizes the degradation of the β-lactam ring that occurs at lower pH.45,46

To optimize reaction conditions with an amine more stable than 6-APA, the conjugation reaction was performed with glycine ethyl ester as a 6-APA surrogate. Surprisingly, the glycine ethyl ester also attaches to up to eight lipoic acid ligands. A much stronger ESI-MS signal (as shown in the Supporting Information) was observed, albeit with monotonous decaying abundances. Conjugation of eight ligands leaves four ligands in the native lipoate form. In addition to imparting solubility and biocompatibility to the clusters, four ligands may play a role as four internal coordinating ligands essential for the stabilization of the tetravalent cluster.14,47

The total structure of the bare aqueous cluster is not known but is inferred from theoretical calculations that take the structure of the nonaqueous homolog as a starting point.47 Theoretical calculations14 reveal the presence of four electron-deficient silver atoms tetrahedrally arranged at the surface of the cluster that are stabilized by weakly coordinated ligands in the nonaqueous analog.47

In continuing work, it will be possible to isolate specific species with a fixed number of conjugated ligands using high-performance liquid chromatography, as demonstrated and detailed in the Supporting Information in the conjugation of glycine ethyl ester to the cluster. This will allow the efficacy and stability to be studied systematically as a function of the extent of conjugation (from one to eight or more ligands). Other antimicrobials or moieties with a free amine group may conjugate to Ag29. For example, ampicillin was successfully conjugated following the protocol (Figure S1 in the Supporting Information).

Biological Evaluation

By a luciferase assay, we obtained the IC50 for 6-APA, Ag29 cluster, and the conjugate against the S. aureus biofilm as follows: 10 000, 140, and 2.3 μM, respectively (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Phenotypic assay for S. aureus preformed biofilm inhibition. (A) Inhibition by 6-APA, (B) inhibition by Ag29 cluster, and (C) inhibition of the cluster conjugate (Ag29 + 6-APA). Error bars represent ± standard deviation (SD) from the mean of three independent assays in duplicates each.

6-APA alone needs a large quantity of the compound to inhibit, as it is only a nucleus used to develop a new generation of penicillins, and the Ag29 cluster has effectivity against the biofilm in the order of micrograms. The conjugate (Ag29 + 6-APA) requires a small quantity of the cluster to be effective.

The mechanism of antimicrobial action of nanoparticles, in general, has been amply studied and reviewed.48 What sets the subject cluster apart is its enhanced efficacy and versatility attributed to the synergetic effect of its individual components in attacking the microbial cell wall (CW) and cell membrane. The bioaffinity of the lipoate ligand allows the cluster to permeate microbial biofilms, CW, and phospholipid membranes. In addition, the β-lactam moiety of penicillanic acid derivatives allows the clusters to weaken the microbial CW. Once the microbial defenses are broken, the cluster disintegrates into silver ions with the concomitant generation of reactive oxygen species2 that degrade the cell’s DNA and protein, essential to the microbes’ existence.

The increased antimicrobial activity of the conjugated cluster can be explained as activation of the cluster or as activation of the β-lactam backbone. An example of the latter is provided by the coupling of 6-APA to borane clusters that results in increased activity against S. aureus.49 Combination drug therapy is the action of many drugs in combination to achieve synergy; this is frequently used against antibiotic-resistant infections. Synergy is defined as the interaction of two or more antibiotics to achieve a combined antimicrobial effect greater than the summation of their efficacies alone. The theorem of Chou–Talalay50 uses algorithms for automated computer simulation to quantitatively measure synergy, as shown in a plot of the degree of inhibition or fractions affected (Fa) versus combination index (CI).51 The index compares the inhibition predicted by the mass-action law when the components are combined at various proportions to the actual inhibition observed at the same proportions. An index of one indicates an additive effect. Synergism is indicated when the index is less than one. Antagonism is indicated when the index is greater than one.

To corroborate that the conjugate has a synergistic effect compared with the effect of Ag29 or 6-APA alone, we implemented the Chou–Talalay method50 using the CompuSyn 1.0 software. A constant mixing proportion of 2.7 moles of 6-APA to 1 mole of the cluster was estimated from the average degree of conjugation experimentally determined from the mass spectra (2.7 ligands/cluster, Figure 1). Knowledge of the cluster composition (Scheme 1) allows the calculation of the molarity of the cluster used to report antibiotic dose. The Fa–CI plot from the computer simulation is presented in Figure 3 and detailed in Table S1 in the Supporting Information. Median dose (IC50) and other parameters reported by curve fitting the phenotypic assay results (by the CompuSyn 1.0 program) are summarized in Table S2. All doses used in this test for the Ag29–6-APA conjugate demonstrated a synergist effect.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Fa–CI plot. The data are the mean values from three independent experiments. Combined doses of the conjugate (Ag29 cluster and 6-APA antibiotic) ranging from 0.032 to 20.8 μM, resulted in CI < 1 (synergy) ranging from 0.00044 to 0.012. Combination indexes are plotted on a logarithm scale for easy comparison to the CI = 1 limit between synergistic or antagonistic effects.

To visualize the ultrastructural effect of the cluster, 6-APA, and the conjugate against the S. aureus biofilm, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the nontreated cells were abundant, clustered, round, with a smooth surface and with some extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) characteristic of the biofilm (Figure 4a). After 24 h treatment with Ag29, some cells become distorted and AgNPs accumulate on the EPS (Figure 4b). Bacterial cells treated with 6-APA have mild distortions on the outer cell surface of the membrane (Figure 4c). After treatment with the conjugate, the cells become distorted, with disruption of the outer cell membrane and leakage of the cell content (red arrows), as shown in Figure 4d.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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SEM microscopy of the S. aureus preformed biofilm. (a) Untreated preformed biofilm, (b) preformed biofilm treated with Ag29 clusters at concentration, (c) biofilm after 6-APA treatment at 12 mM, (d) preformed biofilm of S. aureus after 24 h treatment with the conjugate (0.11 mM). Red arrows indicate disruption of the outer cell membrane.

It should be noted that the microbiological assay reported here was NOT performed against a methicillin-resistant S. aureus bacteria (MRSA). However, the assay was performed against a preformed biofilm, which is more antibiotic resistant than in the planktonic form. In future work, we anticipate a similar enhancement in activity when the conjugated cluster is tested against MRSA.

The antimicrobial efficiency of the cluster can be further optimized by controlling the cluster charge, the degree of conjugation, the length and shape of the penicillanic acid derivative, and the cluster concentration. Furthermore, once absorbed into the microbe, the cluster activity can be controlled by judicial exposure to light, heat, and pH. The conjugated cluster may be used in topical applications (i.e., wound infections, surface disinfection, catheter protection).

Conclusions

Incorporation of a β-lactam moiety (6-APA) to a silver cluster of known composition results in a 60-fold enhancement in its activity against a preformed S. aureus biofilm, as demonstrated by in vitro susceptibility methods and electron scanning microscopy. Evidence for conjugating and averaging of 2.7 ligands per cluster and up to eight ligands is supported by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Ongoing work includes conjugation of the ligand in the organic phase, cluster conjugation via ligand substitution reactions, and testing antimicrobial activity against MRSA superbugs and against a wider range of substrates. In addition, the conjugation of the isolated ligand and its subsequent incorporation into the cluster via place exchange reactions is being investigated. The methods described here are significant because they may be extended beyond penicillins to a plethora of existing antiviral agents or other antibacterial agents with different modes of action. The application of other coupling modes (disulfides, organosilanes, phosphate esters, etc.), other metals with antimicrobial activity (Cu), and the alloying of clusters with biocompatible metals (Ti) is also within reach.

Experimental Section

Cluster Synthesis and Its Conjugation

First, the (Ag29LA12)[3−] cluster (hereafter Ag29) was prepared and characterized as described previously.14 The raw cluster solution was purified by sequential washing with acetone followed by extraction with methanol. Mass analysis was performed in a Bruker micrOTOF time-of-flight mass spectrometer operating in negative mode, loop injection, 50:50 methanol/water solvent flowing at 10 μL/min (for other details, see the Supporting Information).

The cluster was conjugated to 6-APA in two steps as depicted in Scheme S1 (Supporting Information) using free-base EDAC [1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide] as a coupling agent and sulfo-NHS [N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide] as a catalyst. The sulfo-ester intermediate may be precipitated and washed free of unconjugated reactants by controlling the pH. Once cleaned, the sulfo-ester cluster is redispersed in solvent by increasing its pH and subsequently reacted with the penicillanic derivative. The use of the free-base form of the activating agent was essential in conjugating the cluster. Numerous trials of the same reaction using the salt form or the HCL form of EDC were unsuccessful despite the in situ addition of two molar equivalents of the base. However, no such difficulties were encountered when conjugating the bare ligand (unattached to the cluster). Also, the 500 mM MES concentration was important to ensure the solubility of excess coupling agent and to control the pH at optimal conditions.

Bioassay and Microscopy

To measure inhibition on a preformed biofilm, we performed a phenotypic assay with some modifications.52 Briefly, strain of S. aureus UAMS-1 was cultured at 37 °C for 24 h on selective plates (ChromAgar BD Biosciences), subcultured in tryptic soy broth (TSB) liquid media on an orbital shaker at 37 °C for 18–24 h. Cells were resuspended in brain heart infusion (BHI) medium enriched with 10% human serum (HS) at 37 °C. Following incubation, the cultures were sedimented by centrifugation (3600g) for 15 min, washed twice with PBS, and resuspended in BHI and adjusted the density of the cell suspension to 1 × 107 CFU/mL. Sterile 96-well polystyrene tissue culture plates (Falcon, Franklin lakes, NJ) were inoculated with 100 μL of the bacterial suspension. Plates were incubated at 37 °C for 3 h to allow biofilm formation and attachment, the culture supernatant from each well was decanted, and planktonic cells were removed by washing with PBS. After the washing steps, 2-fold serial dilutions were prepared in the 96-well polystyrene tissue culture plate containing BHI at a final volume of 100 μL per well. The final concentration of the Ag29 cluster (12–0.19 mM), 6-APA (48–0.10 mM), and the conjugate (6-APA 48–0.10 + Ag29 cluster 0.600–0.0011 mM) with medium without the agents as the nontreated control and the medium alone as the blank control. The viability of the biofilm on each individual well quantified by a luciferase viability assay (Presto blue) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Visualization of S. aureus Biofilm by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Ultrastructural visualization of the inhibition of S. aureus biofilm was performed by SEM as in ref (14), in 6-well plates (Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY) with the mature biofilm treated with 6-APA, the conjugate, or Ag29RALA12 for 24 h at 37 °C. After treatment, the biofilms were washed with PBS and fixed with 4% formaldehyde and 1% glutaraldehyde in PBS at room temperature. 6-APA, the conjugate, and Ag29RALA12 were used at a concentration previously calculated to be the IC50. The samples were washed twice in PBS and post-fixed at room temperature in 1% osmium tetroxide (OsO4). For the drying of the samples, we used a graded ethanol series (25, 50, 75, and 95% ETOH). The dried specimens were then placed on copper grids to be observed with SEM in a Hitachi S-5500.

Acknowledgments

LACC Authors acknowledge valuable contributions from Miguel Brenes, Dongwan Kim, and Anthony Jeong.

Glossary

Abbreviations

Ag29

cluster Na3(Ag29,LA12)

CI

combination index

ESI-MS

electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

EDC

1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide

Fa

fraction affected

IC50

half-maximal inhibitory concentration

LA

lipoic acid

MES

2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid

RALA

R(α)lipoic acid

SEM

scanning electron microscopy

sNHS

N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide

6-APA

6-aminopenicillanic acid

TEA

tetraethyl amine

TEAA

triethylammonium acetate

Supporting Information Available

The Supporting Information is available free of charge at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.9b02908.

  • Detailed methodology is provided for cluster purification, cluster conjugation, and mass spectrometry analysis (PDF)

Author Contributions

⊥ H.H.L. and D.M.B. contributed equally. The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript.

This work has been supported by The Welch Foundation Grant AX-1857 (Professor R.L.W.). Additional support was provided by the Margaret Batts Tobin Foundation, San Antonio, TX (Professor J.L.-R.).

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Supplementary Material

ao9b02908_si_001.pdf (911.2KB, pdf)

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