The antibacterial properties of solid supported liposomes on Streptococcus oralis biofilms

A novel system for the delivery of drugs to bacterial biofilms has been developed. The system is based on the use of anionic and cationic liposomes as drug carriers adsorbed on the surface of zinc citrate particles. The adsorption process results in the formation of solid supported vesicles (SSVs) which aids the stabilisation of the liposomes. Anionic liposomes have been prepared by incorporation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes and cationic liposomes have been prepared by incorporation of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) into DPPC plus cholesterol liposomes. The liposomes were adsorbed onto zinc citrate particle and targeted to immobilised biofilms of the oral bacterium Streptococcus oralis. The liposomes were used to carry the bactericides, Triclosan, a lipid-soluble agent, and the aqueous-soluble penicillin-G, and their ability to inhibit bacterial growth from immobilised biofilms was accessed. Zinc citrate is itself a bactericide and is used in the formulation of toothpastes. The SSVs carrying the drugs have therapeutic properties. To trace the origin of these properties, each component of the SSV was investigated alone and in combination in binary systems. Some combinations showed synergistic (or additive) antibacterial effects while others showed regressive effects compared with their components.