Effects of silver nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus contaminated open wounds healing in mice: An experimental study

The microorganisms have been noted as the main cause of delayed wound healing. The most common pathogen causing the wound infections is Staphylococcus aureus. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show ample antibacterial activities. In the present study, the effect of AgNPs on mouse wounds inoculated with S. aureus was investigated. Sixty male mice (20 to 30 g) were anesthetized, full-thickness skin wounds were made on their back and then the bacterial suspension was added to each wound bed. Treatments were administered on wound bed topically including gentamicin (8 mg kg^-1), AgNPs (0.08 mg kg^-1, 0.04 mg kg^-1 and 0.02 mg kg^-1) and normal saline in the control group. Wound healing was monitored macroscopically by taking digital photographs on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of the experiment. Topical application of gentamicin and AgNPs (0.08 and 0.04 mg kg-1) significantly increased the rate of wound healing more than treatment with AgNPs at a dose of 0.02 mg kg-1and normal saline. The presence of silver nanoparticles in AgNPs groups (especially 0.08 mg kg^-1) improved wound appearance better than other groups without silver nanoparticles (gentamicin and control groups) and led to lesser wound scars. According to data analysis, healing rate of treated mice with gentamicin and AgNPs (0.08 mg kg-1) was significantly (p < 0.001) faster than treated mice with other AgNPs doses and normal saline. The results of current study introduced an in vivo nanosilver accelerating effects on the treatment of on S. aureus infected skin wounds.