title: Using electrospun poly(ethylene-oxide) nanofibers for improved retention and efficacy of bacteriolytic antibiotics.
abstract: The aim of this study was to demonstrate targeted delivery of protein-based bactericidal antibiotics using electrospun polymer nanofibers. Previous studies have utilized electrospinning to create nanofibers for the localized delivery of therapeutic agents, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and low molecular weight heparin. By employing established electrospinning techniques, nanofibers of varying diameters (100-500 nm) were generated from a 0.05 % solution of poly(ethylene-oxide) (PEO) and the antimicrobial peptide, LL-37 was incorporated into the nanofiber meshwork. Initial experiments determined that the strong electric fields caused by electrospinning do not disrupt the antimicrobial properties of LL-37, thus justifying the application of LL-37 as an electrospun component. Disk diffusion assays and especially bacterial filtration studies with E. coli were conducted to quantify the drug delivery potential of the nanofibers. Disk diffusion revealed a small zone of inhibition of about 1 mm around the LL-37-incorporated nanofiber disk. Filtration tests demonstrated that electrospun PEO fibers were capable of delivering LL-37 consistently while still maintaining their antimicrobial abilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Marie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Smithgall
authors.forename: Shruti M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paranjape
authors.forename: Ronda J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rolfes
authors.forename: Makarand
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paranjape
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011108:Polymers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols