Iranian researchers from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences applied nanotechnology to treat bacterial infections.
A nano drug delivery system was designed in this research, which has successful performance against antibiotic-resistant infections. After the completion of animal and human tests, the results of the research can be used in pharmaceutical industries.
In this research, a new drug delivery system has been designed based on nanoliposomes by combining an antibiotic and a natural material, and its antibacterial properties have been investigated against Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. This drug delivery system makes possible the achievement of significant elimination properties and increases the amount and accumulation of antibacterial agents within the bacteria.
Staphylococcus aureus usually responds pretty well to strong antibiotics, including vancomycin and linezolid. However, these antibiotics have intense side effects, and their continuous consumption results in bacteria resistance against the medications. Therefore, it is mandatory to discover new approaches to fight infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This study tries to investigate the antibacterial activity of a combination of oleic acid and gentamicin against this bacterium in the two free and nanoliposomal forms. The therapeutic effect of this drug has also been compared to that of vancomycin.
Nanoliposomal form of the designed compound has shown higher antibacterial activity than the free form of the drug. The drug delivery system is able to increase the antibacterial activity of the loaded drug, and to decrease the required dosage of the drug. In addition, it acts faster in the elimination of the bacteria. The interesting point is that the nanoliposomal form is more effective in the prevention and elimination of the bacteria in comparison with vancomycin.
Results of the research have been published in Pharmaceutical Biology, vol. 52, issue 11, 2014, pp. 1423-1428.