Advantages:
- A water-soluble nanoparticle emulsion with an antibiotic monomer foundation has the ability to fight antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections
- The emulsion technique facilitates the conversion of antibiotics into nanoparticles that are protected from degradative enzymes
- The aqueous homo-polymer nanoparticle offers stability, versatility, and decreased cytotoxicity
Summary:
Antibiotic resistance and the need for targeted, effective drug delivery have prompted extensive research into polymer-based carriers for encapsulating therapeutic agents. However, many existing formulations suffer from low drug-loading capacity, unfavorable release profiles, and potential cytotoxicity due to the use of surfactants or non-bioactive components. Common issues include physical instability such as stickiness, coagulation, and difficulties in achieving uniform particle sizes. Furthermore, relying on multiple materials to encapsulate drugs often complicates synthesis, increases production costs, and may compromise therapeutic efficacy. These challenges highlight the urgent need for more efficient and biocompatible delivery strategies.
This invention uses a single antibiotic-based monomer, N-acryloyl ciprofloxacin, to create polymeric nanoparticles through an emulsion polymerization process, eliminating non-bioactive components and achieving higher drug loading than earlier copolymer systems. The resulting nanoparticles maintain antibacterial efficacy comparable to free ciprofloxacin while showing low cytotoxicity. The system can be lyophilized to produce an amorphous powder insoluble in water and common solvents, with no unreacted monomer detected. Control experiments confirm the critical role of the acryloyl group for stable nanoparticle formation, suggesting this approach can address challenges in antibiotic delivery and potentially improve outcomes in combating drug-resistant bacterial infections.
The emulsified polyacrylate nanoparticle protecting the loaded antibiotic against degradative enzymes.
Desired Partnerships: