Quantifying the molecular interactions and evaluating the efficacy of silver nanoparticles as antibacterial agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with a focus on septic arthritis and biofilm Disruption

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a notorious bacterial pathogen that presents a global health challenge due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted increasing attention as a potent antibacterial agent, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their efficacy against MRSA remain underexplored. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles against MRSA on a molecular scale, utilizing DNA damage as a parameter. MRSA isolates were collected from various sources, including clinical settings, community, and environmental samples. Commercially available AgNPs were purchased, with specifications including a size range of 10–20 nm and a purity level of 99.9 %. MRSA isolates were cultured under identical conditions, with one set grown in the absence of AgNPs serving as the control group and the other set exposed to varying concentrations of AgNPs. Genomic DNA was extracted from both control and treated MRSA isolates post-culture using standard protocols. The extent of DNA damage was quantitatively assessed using the comet assay , which enables visualization of DNA breaks under a fluorescence microscope.