Chitosan-Coated Azithromycin/Ciprofloxacin-Loaded Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles: A Characterization and Potency...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat.
• Combination therapy with azithromycin (AZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a strategy to enhance efficacy and combat resistance.
• Novel drug delivery systems are needed to optimize the performance of antibiotic combinations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-encapsulate azithromycin and ciprofloxacin within chitosan-coated polymeric nanoparticles.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties and in vitro release of the co-encapsulated nanoparticles.
• To assess the enhanced antibacterial activity of the combined drug formulation against Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Main Methods:

• Co-encapsulation of AZ/CIP using the double emulsion method into chitosan-coated polymeric nanoparticles.
• Characterization of nanoparticles for size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and thermal properties (DSC).
• In vitro drug release studies and antimicrobial activity assessment via micro-dilution assays against Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Main Results:

• Spherical nanoparticles (184-190 nm) with high uniformity (PDI < 0.2) and positive zeta potential (8-11 mV) were obtained.
• Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed the amorphous state of encapsulated azithromycin and ciprofloxacin.
• In vitro release showed a sustained 4-day release profile, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were reduced by at least 15-fold for ciprofloxacin and 60-fold for azithromycin.

Conclusions:

• Successful co-encapsulation of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin into chitosan-coated polymeric nanoparticles.
• The developed nanoparticles exhibited desirable characteristics, including uniform size and high zeta potential.
• Chitosan-coated nanoparticles significantly enhanced the antibacterial efficacy of both azithromycin and ciprofloxacin.