Pokhrel, Lok RGarcia, Lauren C2025-06-202025-052025-04-30May 2025http://hdl.handle.net/10342/14167Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) is a bacterium often found during advanced stages of muco-obstructive lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). Patients with COPD hyperaccumulate thick mucus that impairs ciliary movement within the airways. Pa binds to glycosylated mucin proteins in the mucus, which enables Pa to evade antibiotic treatment (i.e., Tobramycin) regardless of frequency or dosage; this forms a favorable environment for recurrent and chronic bacterial lung infections, exacerbated symptoms, and higher mortality rates. Antibiotic treatment failure remains a challenge, contributing to 4.95 million deaths in 2019, globally. Objectives: This study’s objective was to determine the efficacy of amino-functionalized silver nanoparticles (NH2-AgNPs) in inhibiting both planktonic and biofilm forms of Pa growth under low and high mucin environments, mimicking the airway milieu of patients with early and chronic stages of COPD. Methods: PAO1 strain was used for multiple toxicity bioassays, including growth assay, cell leakage assay, resazurin cell viability assay, crystal violet biofilm inhibition assay, and Pierce Bradford protein assay. Results: NH2-AgNPs were significantly inhibitory to both the planktonic and biofilm forms of Pa at ≥1 µg/mL compared to Tobramycin. These results suggest higher potency of NH2-AgNPs over Tobramycin in inhibiting Pa infections in in-vitro COPD model.application/pdfPseudomonas aeruginosananoparticleCOPDantibioticbiofilmHonors Thesis2025-06-12