5 research outputs found
Molecular Aspects of the Interaction with Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria of Hydrothermal Carbon Nanoparticles Associated with Bac8c2,5Leu Antimicrobial Peptide
Molecular Aspects of the Interaction with Gram-Negative and Gram-
Positive Bacteria of Hydrothermal Carbon Nanoparticles Associated
with Bac8c2,5Leu Antimicrobial Peptide
Giulia Barzan,⊥ Ida Kokalari,⊥ Giacomo Gariglio, Elena Ghibaudi, Marc Devocelle, Marco P. Monopoli,
Alessio Sacco, Angelo Greco, Andrea M. Giovannozzi, Andrea M. Rossi, and Ivana Fenoglio*
Cite This: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c00305 Read Online
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ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely studied
as therapeutic agents due to their broad-spectrum efficacy against
infections. However, their clinical use is hampered by the low in
vivo bioavailability and systemic toxicity. Such limitations might be
overcome by using appropriate drug delivery systems. Here, the
preparation of a drug delivery system (DDS) by physical
conjugation of an arginine-rich peptide and hydrothermal carbon
nanoparticles (CNPs) has been explored, and its antimicrobial
efficacy against Eschericia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus
investigated in comparison with the unloaded carrier and the free
peptide. The mechanism of interaction between CNPs and the
bacteria was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and a
combined dielectrophoresis−Raman spectroscopy method for real-
time analysis. In view of a possible systemic administration, the
effect of proteins on the stability of the DDS was investigated by using albumin as a model protein. The peptide was bounded
electrostatically to the CNPs surface, establishing an equilibrium modulated by pH and albumin. The DDS exhibited antimicrobial
activity toward the two bacterial strains, albeit lower as compared to the free peptide. The decrease in effectiveness toward E. coli was
likely due to the rapid formation of a particle-induced extracellular matrix. The present results are relevant for the future
development of hydrothermal CNPs as drug delivery agents of AMP