title: Antimicrobial drugs encapsulated in fibrin nanoparticles for treating microbial infested wounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In vitro evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal drugs encapsulated fibrin nanoparticles to prove their potential prospect of using these nanocomponent for effective treatment of microbial infested wounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsification-diffusion method was adopted to encapsulate 1 mg/ml each of antimicrobial drugs (Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole) in 4 ml of aqueous fibrinogen suspension and subsequent thrombin mediated cross linking to synthesize drug loaded fibrin nanoparticles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ciprofloxacin loaded fibrin nanoparticles (CFNPs) showed size range of 253 ± 6 nm whereas that of Fluconazole loaded fibrin nanoparticles (FFNPs) was 260 ± 10 nm. Physico chemical characterizations revealed the firm integration of antimicrobial drugs within fibrin nanoparticles. Drug release studies performed at physiological pH 7.4 showed a release of 16% ciprofloxacin and 8% of fluconazole while as the release of ciprofloxacin at alkaline pH 8.5, was 48% and that of fluconazole was 37%. The antimicrobial activity evaluations of both drug loaded systems independently showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E.coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans). The in vitro toxicity of the prepared drug loaded nanoparticles were further analyzed using Human dermal fibroblast cells (HDF) and showed adequate cell viability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacies of both CFNPs and FFNPs for sustained delivery of encapsulated anti microbial drugs were evaluated in vitro suggesting its potential use for treating microbial infested wounds (diabetic foot ulcer).
authors.affiliation: Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kochi, 682041, India.
authors.forename: B Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Alphonsa
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Sudheesh Kumar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Praveen
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chennazhi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayakumar
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005337:Fibrin; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005337:Fibrin