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Electrospun vancomycin-loaded nanofibers for management of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-induced skin infections

Research Authors
Heba A Fathi, Ayat Abdelkader, Mahmoud S AbdelKarim, Ayman A Abdelaziz, Mohamed A El-Mokhtar, Ayat Allam, Gihan Fetih, Mahmoud El Badry, Mahmoud Elsabahy
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Vol
586
Research Year
2020
Research Member
Research_Pages
119620
Research Abstract

Skin damage exposes the underlying layers to bacterial invasion, leading to skin and soft tissue infections. Several pathogens have developed resistance against conventional topical antimicrobial treatments and rendered them less effective. Recently, several nanomedical strategies have emerged as a potential approach to improve therapeutic outcomes of treating bacterial skin infections. In the current study, nanofibers were utilized for topical delivery of the antimicrobial drug vancomycin and evaluated as a promising tool for treatment of topical skin infections. Vancomycin-loaded nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning technique, and vancomycin-loaded nanofibers of the optimal composition exhibited nanosized uniform smooth fibers (ca. 200 nm diameter), high drug entrapment efficiency and sustained drug release patterns over 48 h. In vitro cytotoxicity assays, using several cell lines, revealed the biocompatibility of the drug-loaded nanofibers. In vitro antibacterial studies showed sustained antibacterial activity of the vancomycin-loaded nanofibers against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in comparison to the free drug. The nanofibers were then tested in animal model of superficial MRSA skin infection and demonstrated a superior antibacterial efficiency, as compared to animals treated with the free vancomycin solution. Hence, nanofibers might provide an efficient nanodevice to overcome MRSA-induced skin infections and a promising topical delivery vehicle for antimicrobial drugs.