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Published on: August 21, 2021
Chitosan-Based Microparticle Encapsulated Acinetobacter baumannii Phage Cocktail in Hydrogel Matrix for the
Margaret O Ilomuanya1, Nkechi V Enwuru2, Emmanuella Adenokun1
1University of Lagos, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Lagos, Nigeria
Objectives:
Multi-drug resistant bacteria have been implicated in various debilitating infections that have led to life loss. This study developed an approach to tackle multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in a chronic wound model through A. baumannii phage encapsulation with resuspension in hydrogel.
Materials And Methods:
Two isolates of A. baumannii-specific lytic phases ɸAB140 and ɸAB150 alone, in combination (cocktail) encapsulated within a chitosan (CS) microparticle was suspended in CS hydrogel and evaluated for their therapeutic efficacy to ensure bacterial clearance in A. baumannii induced diabetic wound infection. Microencapsulation of the phage was carried out using ionic gelation techniques Biological characterization via cell cytoxicity, in vivo wound healing, histology and histomorphometry was carried out.
Results:
Two characterized A. baumannii phages (ɸAB140 and ɸAB150), specific to twenty A. baumannii isolates, were isolated. The encapsulated CS microparticle hydrogel exhibited a pH of 5.77 ± 0.05. The wound size reduction was most pronounced in formulation C2, which showed statistically significant wound seize reduction on days 4 and 7, 56.79 ± 2.02% and 62.15 ± 5.11%, respectively. The optimized concentration of C2 was not toxic to the cells as it adequately supported cell growth with a proliferation rate of 215 ± 7.89% compared to control (107.32 ± 4.55%).
Conclusion:
Microparticle carrier technology was used to show the lytic activity against multi drug-resistant A. baumannii. In vivo results showed significant wound size reduction that was most pronounced in formulation C2 on day 4.
Insights
This study used phage encapsulation in hydrogel to treat multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii wound infections. The optimized formulation significantly reduced wound size and was non-toxic, offering a promising therapeutic approach.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Wound Healing
Background:
- Multi-drug resistant bacteria, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii, cause severe infections and significant mortality.
- Chronic wound infections pose a major clinical challenge due to bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a phage-based therapy for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in a chronic wound model.
- To assess the efficacy of Acinetobacter baumannii phages encapsulated in chitosan microparticle hydrogel for wound healing.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of two Acinetobacter baumannii-specific lytic phages (ɸAB140 and ɸAB150).
- Encapsulation of phages within chitosan (CS) microparticles using ionic gelation and suspension in a CS hydrogel.
- Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy through in vivo wound healing studies, including wound size reduction, histology, and histomorphometry, along with cell cytotoxicity assays.
Main Results:
- The optimized phage-encapsulated hydrogel formulation (C2) demonstrated significant wound size reduction (56.79% by day 4, 62.15% by day 7).
- The formulation showed no cytotoxicity, supporting cell growth with a proliferation rate of 215 ± 7.89% compared to the control.
- The microparticle carrier technology effectively delivered lytic activity against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.
Conclusions:
- Phage encapsulation within chitosan microparticle hydrogel is an effective strategy for treating multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii chronic wound infections.
- The developed formulation shows significant therapeutic potential for wound healing with a favorable safety profile.
