The highly efficient elimination of intracellular bacteria via a metal organic framework (MOF)-based three-in-one

Xu Zhang1, Lizhi Liu, Lunjie Huang

  • 1College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China. wanglong79@yahoo.com.

Nanoscale
|May 3, 2019
PubMed

Insights

A novel pH-responsive metal organic framework (MOF) system delivers tetracycline (Tet) to effectively eliminate intracellular bacteria, overcoming cell membrane barriers and restoring antibiotic efficacy for infection treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Intracellular bacteria cause infectious disease relapses due to antibiotic deactivation by the cell membrane.
  • Current therapies struggle to eradicate intracellular pathogens effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design a pH-responsive metal organic framework (MOF)/antibiotic system for targeted intracellular bacteria elimination.
  • To enhance antibiotic efficacy against intracellular pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a tetracycline (Tet)@ZIF-8@ hyaluronic acid (HA) system (TZH) for cellular uptake via HA-mediated pathways.
  • Investigated synergistic antibacterial effects of released zinc ions and Tet under acidic conditions.
  • Evaluated TZH efficacy and biotoxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

  • The TZH system demonstrated efficient cellular uptake through CD44 receptor interaction.
  • Synergistic release of zinc ions and Tet under acidic conditions enhanced antibacterial activity.
  • Achieved over 98% clearance of intracellular bacteria with minimal biotoxicity.

Conclusions:

  • The TZH system effectively overcomes cell membrane barriers to eliminate intracellular bacteria.
  • This strategy restores the efficacy of compromised antibiotics and shows potential for optimizing antibiotic dosage.
  • The developed system offers a versatile platform for controlled drug delivery in various applications.

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