The Efficacy of Various Novel Copper-Based Antibacterial Solutions on E. Coli

Year 2023, , 52 - 57, 26.05.2023

Atiksh Chandra , Sahana Thayagabalu

https://doi.org/10.56766/ntms.1144829

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for long-lasting sanitation solutions in households, businesses, and schools. Current disinfectants, like Lysol, kill bacteria and other microbes only at initial application and are ineffective under aqueous conditions. Copper (II) ions and Lactic Acid are highly regarded for their synergetic, long-lasting antibacterial properties. Although L-pyroglutamic acid holds similar properties, little research has examined its efficacy with copper metal. The purpose of this experiment is to find a novel, clinically safe, antibacterial solution for instantaneous microbial inhibition and continued inhibition over extended periods of time in aqueous solutions. Two antibacterial solutions utilizing Copper (II) Sulfate (10 ppm) were developed with 1% Lactic Acid (Solution A) and 1% L-Pyroglutamic Acid (Solution B). The extinction rate of Escherichia coli K12 bacteria for each solution and Lysol was recorded. The concentration of E. coli was observed via spectrophotometry at 3-time intervals: Initial Introduction (28 Minutes), Short Term (2 Hours) and Long Term (72 hours). At initial introduction, there was no significant difference between solutions (p>0.05) ranging from 22 to 28% E. coli loss from the original sample. Significant growth inhibition (p <0.05) occurred in Solution A and Solution B compared to Lysol after 2 hours. Solution B sustained higher efficacy compared to Lysol after 72 hours. Overall, our Copper (II)/Lactic Acid Solution (Solution A) and Copper (II)/L-Pyroglutamic Acid Solution (Solution B) showed significant improvement when compared to the efficacy of Lysol in aqueous solutions over longer periods of time. Both solutions are cheap, clinically safe, and long-lasting, making them pragmatic options for the future aqueous household sanitation.

Keywords

Lysol, Copper, E. Coli, Lactic Acid, Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid, Disinfectant

References

• 1. Montero, D.A., Arellano, C., Pardo, M. et al. Antimicrobial properties of a novel copper-based composite coating with potential for use in healthcare facilities. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 8, 3 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-018-0456-4
• 2. Grass G, Rensing C, Solioz M. Metallic copper as an antimicrobial surface. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Mar;77(5):1541-7. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02766-10. Epub 2010 Dec 30. PMID: 21193661; PMCID: PMC3067274.
• 3. Espirito Santo, C., et al. 2011. Bacterial killing by dry metallic copper surfaces. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 77:794-802.
• 4. Espirito Santo, C., P. V. Morais, and G. Grass. 2010. Isolation and characterization of bacteria resistant to metallic copper surfaces. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 76:1341-1348.
• 5. Espirito Santo, C., N. Taudte, D. H. Nies, and G. Grass. 2008. Contribution of copper ion resistance to survival of Escherichia coli on metallic copper surfaces. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74:977-986.
• 6. Faundez, G., M. Troncoso, P. Navarrete, and G. Figueroa. 2004. Antimicrobial activity of copper surfaces against suspensions of Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni. BMC Microbiol. 4:19.
• 7. Vincent, M., Duval, R. E., Hartemann, P., & Engels‐Deutsch, M. (2018). Contact killing and antimicrobial properties of copper. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 124(5), 1032–1046. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13681
• 8. J T Trevors, C M Cotter, Copper toxicity and uptake in microorganisms, Journal of Industrial Microbiology, Volume 6, Issue 2, 1 October 1990, Pages 77–84, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01576426
• 9. Usman MS, El Zowalaty ME, Shameli K, Zainuddin N, Salama M, Ibrahim NA. Synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial properties of copper nanoparticles. Int J Nanomedicine. 2013;8:4467-79. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S50837. Epub 2013 Nov 21. PMID: 24293998; PMCID: PMC3839804.
• 10. Fujimori Y, Sato T, Hayata T, Nagao T, Nakayama M, Nakayama T, Sugamata R, Suzuki K. Novel antiviral characteristics of nanosized copper(I) iodide particles showing inactivation activity against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012 Feb;78(4):951-5. doi: 10.1128/AEM.06284-11. Epub 2011 Dec 9. PMID: 22156433; PMCID: PMC3272987.
• 11. Borkow G, Lara HH, Covington CY, Nyamathi A, Gabbay J. Deactivation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in medium by copper oxide-containing filters. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Feb;52(2):518-25. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00899-07. Epub 2007 Dec 10. PMID: 18070974; PMCID: PMC2224774
• 12. Hang X, Peng H, Song H, Qi Z, Miao X, Xu W. Antiviral activity of cuprous oxide nanoparticles against Hepatitis C Virus in vitro. J Virol Methods. 2015 Sep 15;222:150-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2015.06.010. Epub 2015 Jun 25. PMID: 26116793.
• 13. Applerot G, Lellouche J, Lipovsky A, Nitzan Y, Lubart R, Gedanken A, Banin E. Understanding the antibacterial mechanism of CuO nanoparticles: revealing the route of induced oxidative stress. Small. 2012 Nov 5;8(21):3326-37. doi: 10.1002/smll.201200772. Epub 2012 Aug 13. PMID: 22888058.
• 14. Azam A, Ahmed AS, Oves M, Khan MS, Habib SS, Memic A. Antimicrobial activity of metal oxide nanoparticles against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria: a comparative study. Int J Nanomedicine. 2012;7:6003-9. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S35347. Epub 2012 Dec 5. PMID: 23233805; PMCID: PMC3519005.
• 15. AMES S. DICKSON, MAYNARD E. ANDERSON; Microbiological Decontamination of Food Animal Carcasses by Washing and Sanitizing Systems: A Review. J Food Prot 1 February 1992; 55 (2): 133–140. doi: https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X-55.2.133
• 16. Beal, J., Niven, S., Campbell, A. and Brooks, P. (2004), The effect of copper on the death rate of Salmonella typhimurium DT104:30 in food substrates acidified with organic acids. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 38: 8-12. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1472-765X.2003.01147.x
• 17. Ibrahim DSS, et al. Nematicidal Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria against Root-Knot Nematodes. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022, 7(1): 000216.
• 18. Michael G. Schmidt, Sarah E. Fairey, Hubert H. Attaway, In situ evaluation of a persistent disinfectant provides continuous decontamination within the clinical environment, American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 47, Issue 6, 2019, Pages 732-734, ISSN 0196-6553,
• 19. Rabin Gyawali, Salam A. Ibrahim, Salma H. Abu Hasfa, Shahnaz Q. Smqadri, Yosef Haik, "Antimicrobial Activity of Copper Alone and in Combination with Lactic Acid against Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Laboratory Medium and on the Surface of Lettuce and Tomatoes", Journal of Pathogens, vol. 2011, Article ID 650968, 9 pages, 2011. https://doi.org/10.4061/2011/650968
• 20. Al-Holy, M., Castro, L. and Al-Qadiri, H. (2010), Inactivation of Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) in infant formula using lactic acid, copper sulfate and monolaurin. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 50: 246-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02782.
• 21. Alakomi HL, Skyttä E, Saarela M, Mattila-Sandholm T, Latva-Kala K, Helander IM. Lactic acid permeabilizes gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the outer membrane. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000 May;66(5):2001-5. doi: 10.1128/AEM.66.5.2001-2005.2000. PMID: 10788373; PMCID: PMC101446.
• 22. Tan, S. W., Chai, C. L., Moloney, M. G., & Thompson, A. L. (2015). Synthesis of mimics of pramanicin from pyroglutamic acid and their antibacterial activity. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 80(5), 2661–2675. https://doi.org/10.1021/jo502810b
• 23. Gang, Fang-li & Zhu, Feng & Li, Xiao-ting & Wei, Jie-lu & Wu, Wen-jun & Zhang, Ji-wen. (2018). Synthesis and bioactivities evaluation of L-pyroglutamic acid analogues from natural product lead. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 26. 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.07.041.