Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces In Vitro
Published on: April 21, 2023
In vitro efficacy of newly designed vancomycin-based microparticles
Walid Hachicha1, Hatem Fessi, Emmanuelle Casoli-Bergeron
1Laboratoire d'Automatique et de Génie des Procédés, Villeurbanne, France. hachicha@lagep.cpe.fr
Purpose:
To compare the in vitro bactericidal and anti-adhesion properties of vancomycin-based microparticles and lyophilized vancomycin and estimate their relevance to perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and endophthalmitis prevention.
Setting:
University research laboratory, Lyon, France.
Methods:
The bactericidal and anti-adhesion properties of a newly designed drug-delivery system were assessed on Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical strain N890074 containing the intercellular adhesion locus ica. Lyophilized vancomycin at 20 mug/mL was used as a standard. The new drug-delivery system, designed for the study, consisted of sterile, biocompatible, and biodegradable microparticles with continuous release of vancomycin. To obtain bacterial killing and anti-adhesion curves, experiments were first performed in a bacterial suspension containing 1000 colony-forming units per milliliter. Experiments were then performed with intraocular lenses incubated in the suspension. Efficacy was investigated by bacterial counts and scanning electron microscopy observations.
Results:
The bactericidal and anti-adhesion effects of vancomycin-based microparticles started after 3 hours (P<.002) and 1 hour (P<.001), respectively, and of lyophilized vancomycin, after 1 hour (P = .004) and 1 hour (P<.001), respectively. There was no difference between the 2 forms of vancomycin in the bactericidal effect starting at 21 hours and the anti-adhesion effect starting at 6 hours (P>.05).
Conclusions:
The newly designed vancomycin-based microparticles showed relevant antibacterial and anti-adhesion properties after releasing a sufficient antibacterial quantity, proving that vancomycin remains efficient after undergoing the encapsulation process.
Insights
Vancomycin microparticles demonstrate effective antibacterial and anti-adhesion properties, comparable to lyophilized vancomycin, for preventing infections like endophthalmitis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Materials Science
Background:
- Bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis, pose a significant risk in ophthalmic procedures.
- Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and endophthalmitis prevention are critical for patient outcomes.
- Novel drug delivery systems are being explored to enhance antibiotic efficacy and duration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the in vitro bactericidal and anti-adhesion properties of vancomycin-based microparticles against lyophilized vancomycin.
- To assess the potential of vancomycin microparticles for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and endophthalmitis prevention.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assessment of vancomycin microparticles and lyophilized vancomycin against Staphylococcus epidermidis (strain N890074).
- Evaluation of bactericidal and anti-adhesion effects using bacterial counts and scanning electron microscopy.
- Experiments conducted in bacterial suspension and with intraocular lenses.
Main Results:
- Both vancomycin microparticles and lyophilized vancomycin exhibited significant bactericidal and anti-adhesion effects.
- The onset of action for microparticles was slightly delayed compared to lyophilized vancomycin.
- No significant difference in long-term bactericidal or anti-adhesion effects was observed between the two formulations.
Conclusions:
- Vancomycin microparticles retain their antibacterial and anti-adhesion efficacy after encapsulation.
- The newly designed microparticles show promise as an effective drug delivery system for ophthalmic applications.
- Vancomycin microparticles represent a viable option for enhancing antibiotic prophylaxis and preventing endophthalmitis.
