Antibiotic loaded microspheres as antimicrobial delivery systems for medical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Microbiology

Background:

• Polymeric microspheres are promising platforms for controlled drug delivery.
• Developing effective carriers for antibiotics is crucial to combat microbial infections.
• Fatty acid/amino acid-derived copolymers offer unique properties for biomaterial applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize novel polymeric microspheres for antibiotic delivery.
• To immobilize model antibiotics (streptomycin, chloramphenicol, amphotericin B) within these microspheres.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the antibiotic-loaded microspheres.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of polymeric microspheres using a W/O/W double-emulsion/solvent evaporation technique.
• Loading of model antibiotics including streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and amphotericin B.
• Antimicrobial activity testing against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans.

Main Results:

• Polymeric microspheres were successfully prepared using fatty acid/amino acid copolymers.
• Microspheres effectively immobilized streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and amphotericin B.
• Streptomycin-loaded microspheres demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against all tested microorganisms.

Conclusions:

• Novel polymeric microspheres derived from fatty acid/amino acid components serve as effective antibiotic delivery platforms.
• These microspheres show particular promise as carriers for streptomycin, exhibiting broad-spectrum antimicrobial action.
• The developed system offers a new strategy for combating bacterial and fungal infections through targeted antibiotic delivery.