Deposition of Daldinia starbaeckii (ELF) functionalized silver nanoparticles on urinary catheter tube using chitosan polymer to prevent microbial biofilms formation during UTI infection.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are the most common healthcare problem in hospitals. In this study, we isolated the Daldinia starbaeckii (An endolichenic fungus from Roccella montagnie) and its biomass extract were used to simultaneously synthesize and deposit DSFAgNPs on the inner and outer surfaces of the catheter tube using chitosan biopolymer via In-situ deposition method. Perfectly designed D. starbaeckii extract functionalized DSFAgNPs were characterized by UV spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDS, TEM, and XRD. The microbial efficacy of DSFAgNPs & DSFAgNPs coated catheter (CTH3) was evaluated against eight human pathogenic gram (+ / -) ive strains and Candida albicans. Results indicated DSFAgNPs showed significant biological activity against both gram (+ / -) ive bacteria with an average MIC of 4 µl/ml. The most promising activity was observed against Helicobacter pylori. When bacteria strains allow to grow with CTH3 we reported significant reduction in colony formation unit (CFU/ml) in broth culture assay with an average 70% inhibition. Further, antibiofilm activity of CTH3 against P. aeruginosa showed strong inhibition of biofilm formation (85%). The study explored an alternate approach for significantly prevent CAUTI among hospital patients. We isolated an endolichenic fungus from lichen Roccella montagnei. The molecular characterization of fungus identified as Daldinia starbaeckii (DSF). The DSF was cultured and its fungal biomass exudes were used to simultaneously construct DSF-AgNPs and its deposition on the catheter surface using biopolymer chitosan via In-situ deposition method. Further, antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of DSF-AgNPs was checked against urinary catheter contaminating and human pathogenic bacterial strains. Based on our research, we determined that DSF-AgNPs coating on a urinary catheter through this method is a cost-effective, eco-friendly approach to prevent catheter contamination.