Abstract
Nano-biopolymers could be employed for the delivery of active compounds to increase their stability, bioavailability, efficacy and sustainability. The bioactive chitosan polymer (Cts) was extracted from grown fungus, Cunninghamella elegans, and used for loading ceftriaxone (CFT) and forming the nano-conjugates using tripolyphosphate (TPP) - ionic crosslinking method. The characterization of synthesized CFT/chitosan nanoparticles (NCT) revealed that they chemically crosslinked and had particles' size mean of 56 nm. The CFT loading capacity onto NCT was 54.37%, while its entrapment efficiency was apparently high (79.43%); the maximum released of CFT was 78% from NCT composite after 90 h from dialysis. The CFT/NCT antibacterial activity was confirmed against 3 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin resistants), using disc diffusion and scanning images of electron microscope, which elucidate that CFT/NCT nano-composite had a vigorous action toward bacterial cells; most cells were ruptured and exploded after 6 h of exposure and entirely lysed after 9 h. The formulation of CFT/NCT nano-composite is exceedingly recommended for enhancing drug biocidal activity, especially against resistant bacterial strains.