Antibacterial activity of alginate-casein nanocapsules containing allicin against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) represents a critical global health challenge due to its escalating antibiotic resistance and its formidable ability to form protective biofilms, necessitating the urgent development of novel therapeutic strategies. This research explores the potential of allicin, a natural antibacterial compound, encapsulated within alginate-casein (ACAN) nanoparticles as a promising approach to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa proliferation and biofilm formation. The ACAN nanoparticles were comprehensively characterized for their morphological traits using FESEM, DLS, and FTIR, confirming successful allicin encapsulation and enhanced stability. Notably, the ACAN formulation demonstrated significantly improved antibacterial efficacy and a profound ability to inhibit biofilm growth. Specifically, ACAN nanoparticles achieved up to 77% inhibition of P. aeruginosa biofilm growth, a statistically significant improvement compared to free allicin (e.g., ~ 28% inhibition). Furthermore, the study investigated the impact of ACAN on key biofilm-related genes, revealing a marked downregulation of pslG (involved in exopolysaccharide production) and lasI (critical for quorum sensing and biofilm maturation). These findings collectively highlight that encapsulating allicin within alginate-casein nanoparticles not only enhances its stability and delivery but also significantly boosts its efficacy against the persistent biofilm-forming capabilities of MDR P. aeruginosa. This novel ACAN platform thus presents a compelling and promising therapeutic strategy for addressing challenging bacterial infections.