Fabrication of nitrofurantoin-loaded chitosan-silver nanoparticles for the treatment of urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs), pose significant global health challenges. In this study, chitosan-silver nanoparticles loaded with nitrofurantoin (NFT*C@AgNPs) were utilized to combat CAUTIs, highlighting their strong antimicrobial potential. The physicochemical characterization was performed using UV–Vis, FT-IR, XRD, Zeta Potential, FE-SEM, TGA, and ICP-OES. Drug release studies revealed a linear release profile (R 2 = 0.94205) under simulated physiological conditions (pH 7.4), with maximum release achieved within 1 h, suggesting controlled release potential. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated significant activity against S. aureus and E. coli , with MIC values of 31.25 µg/ml and 15.62 µg/ml, respectively. Notably, NFT*C@AgNPs exhibited superior efficacy against E. coli compared to gentamicin. Antibiofilm studies further revealed potent inhibition at 31.25 µg/ml against S. aureus and at 15.62 µg/ml against E. coli , both of which surpassed gentamicin. Cytotoxicity assessment indicated negligible toxicity towards normal human cells, confirming their biocompatibility for clinical applications. Furthermore, catheter surface coating with NFT*C@AgNPs demonstrated potential for preventing UTIs with enhanced safety. Overall, these findings suggest that NFT*C@AgNPs are an effective antimicrobial nanomaterial for preventing UTIs and catheter-associated infections.