Enhanced antimicrobial activity of the food-protecting nisin peptide by bioconjugation with silver nanoparticles

Nisin is an antimicrobial peptide widely used in the food industry. The efficacy of nisin has decreased due to the development of resistant bacteria. For instance, bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus have resistance by digesting nisin using the nisinase enzyme. The efficacy of nisin could be improved using bioconjugation with metal nanoparticles. Here we synthesized silver nanoparticles using the extract of Cymbopogon citratus; then, we bioconjugated those silver nanoparticles with nisin to form a nanosilver bioconjugate. Silver nanoparticles and silver bioconjugate were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, zeta potential measurement and transmission electron microscopy. In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of both silver nanoparticles and silver bioconjugate was evaluated against selected food spoilage microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes, S. aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium moniliforme. Results show that the antimicrobial potential of nisin increased after bioconjugation with silver nanoparticles. Further, we developed agar film containing nanosilver bioconjugate and also evaluated its antimicrobial activity against selected food spoilage microorganisms. The agar film demonstrated maximum activity against P. fluorescens, of 19 mm, and the minimum against F. moniliforme, of 12 mm. Overall, agar film containing nisin and silver nanoparticles can be used against food spoilage microorganisms.