Green Synthesized Reduced Graphene Oxide–Silver Nanocomposite as an Effective Anti-bacterial Agent Towards Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media Pathogens

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a significant cause of hearing impairment in developing countries and is frequently associated with severe intracranial and extracranial complications. The increasing prevalence of antibioticresistant bacterial strains in CSOM cases underscores the urgent requirement for innovative and effective therapeutic strategies. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that approximately 80% of individuals in low-resource countries rely on traditional medicine to satisfy their primary healthcare needs, emphasizing the potential value of plant-based remedies in addressing such infections. Materials and Methods: The current study primarily focused on the green synthesis of Reduced graphene oxide–silver nanocomposites (rGO/Ag NCs) using Cleome viscosa leaf extract. Characterization was carried out using various spectroscopic techniques, and anti-microbial activity was evaluated in vitro using the disc diffusion method. The significant role of microbial agents in the etiology of CSOM was underscored by the confirmation of bacterial infections in 79 (61.7%) of the 128 patientderived samples analyzed. The predominance of drug-resistant strains was revealed through standardized methods for bacterial isolation and identification, underscoring the urgent need for innovative and effective anti-microbial therapies. Results: The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using spectroscopic techniques, which showed a consistent dimension of approximately 20 nm and a uniform distribution of AgNPs on graphene sheets, as evidenced by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at approximately 420 nm. The anti-microbial activity of the rGO/Ag NCs was evaluated using the disc diffusion method, which resulted in inhibition zones measuring 12.85 ± 0 mm for Staphylococcus aureus and 14.08 ± 0 mm for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rGO/Ag NCs demonstrated superior anti-bacterial activity against multidrug-resistant microorganisms that are associated with CSOM. Furthermore, the experimental groups did not exhibit any significant differences in body weight, food consumption, or hydration intake, which suggests high biocompatibility and systemic stability. Conclusion: The rGO/Ag NCs demonstrated effective anti-microbial properties and did not exhibit any signs of acute or subacute toxicity, highlighting their potential as a therapeutic choice for the treatment of CSOM and other associated ear infections.