N-Acetyl-L-cysteine-Loaded Nanosystems as a Promising Therapeutic Approach Toward the Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Pinto, RM (Author) Other; Monteiro, C (Author) Other; Lima, SAC (Author) Other; Susana Casal (Author) FFUP; Van Dijck, P (Author) Other; Martins, MCL (Author) Other; Nunes, C (Author) Other; Salette Reis (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Vol. 13

ISSN: 1944-8244

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-CMA

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c05124

Abstract (EN): Bacterial biofilms are a major health concern, mainly due to their contribution to increased bacterial resistance to well-known antibiotics. The conventional treatment of biofilms represents a challenge, and frequently, eradication is not achieved with long-lasting administration of antibiotics. In this context, the present work proposes an innovative therapeutic approach that is focused on the encapsulation of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) functionalized with D-amino acids to target and disrupt bacterial biofilms. The optimized formulations presented a mean hydrodynamic diameter around 200 nm, a low polydispersity index, and a high loading capacity. These formulations were stable under storage conditions up to 6 months. In vitro biocompatibility studies showed a low cytotoxicity effect in fibroblasts and a low hemolytic activity in human red blood cells. Nevertheless, unloaded LNPs showed a higher hemolytic potential than NAC-loaded LNPs, which suggests a safer profile of the latter. The in vitro antibiofilm efficacy of the developed formulations was tested against Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) mature biofilms. The results showed that the NAC-loaded LNPs were ineffective against S. epidermidis biofilms, while a significant reduction of biofilm biomass and bacterial viability in P. aeruginosa biofilms were observed. In a more complex therapeutic approach, the LNPs were further combined with moxifloxacin, revealing a beneficial effect between the LNPs and the antibiotic against P. aeruginosa biofilms. Both alone and in combination with moxifloxacin, unloaded and NAC-loaded LNPs functionalized with D-amino acids showed a great potential to reduce bacterial viability, with no significant differences in the presence or absence of NAC. However, the presence of NAC in NAC-loaded functionalized LNPs shows a safer profile than the unloaded LNPs, which is beneficial for an in vivo application. Overall, the developed formulations present a potential therapeutic approach against P. aeruginosa biofilms, alone or in combination with antibiotics.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15