title: A rapid drug release system with a NIR light-activated molecular switch for dual-modality photothermal/antibiotic treatments of subcutaneous abscesses.
abstract: Eradicating subcutaneous bacterial infections remains a significant challenge. This work reports an injectable system of hollow microspheres (HMs) that can rapidly produce localized heat activated by near-infrared (NIR) light and control the release of an antibiotic via a "molecular switch" in their polymer shells, as a combination strategy for treating subcutaneous abscesses. The HMs have a shell of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and an aqueous core that is comprised of vancomycin (Van) and polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy NPs), which are photothermal agents. Experimental results demonstrate that the micro-HMs ensure efficiently the spatial stabilization of their encapsulated Van and PPy NPs at the injection site in mice with subcutaneous abscesses. Without NIR irradiation, the HMs elute a negligible drug concentration, but release substantially more when exposed to NIR light, suggesting that this system is suitable as a photothermally-responsive drug delivery system. The combination of photothermally-induced hyperthermia and antibiotic therapy with HMs increases cytotoxicity for bacteria in abscesses, to an extent that is greater than the sum of the two treatments alone, demonstrating a synergistic effect. This treatment platform may find other clinical applications, especially for localized hyperthermia-based cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wei-Lun
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Tzu-Tsen
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Radhakrishnan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sureshbabu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wei-Tso
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsu-Chan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: hwsung@mx.nthu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hsing-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D019344:Lactic Acid; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008863:Microspheres; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010777:Photochemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011758:Pyrroles; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D014640:Vancomycin
keywords: Antibiotic therapy; Combination therapy; Hyperthermia; In situ drug delivery; Photothermal response system