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Updated: May 5, 2026
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Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection
Published on: October 25, 2013
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Light-Responsive PLGA Microparticles for On-Demand Vancomycin Release and Enhanced Antibacterial Efficiency
Mishal Pokharel1, Abid Neron1, Amit Kumar Dey1
1Department of Biongineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA 02740, USA.
Pharmaceutics
|August 28, 2025
Summary
This study developed light-activated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles for controlled vancomycin release. Near-infrared light triggers drug delivery, enhancing antibacterial efficacy and minimizing side effects for precise treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Optimizing drug delivery systems is crucial for effective treatments with reduced side effects.
- Precise medication release, activated by external stimuli like light, offers enhanced therapeutic control.
- Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs) are investigated for sustained drug release applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a controlled drug delivery system using PLGA microparticles for sustained vancomycin hydrochloride release.
- To engineer microparticles responsive to near-infrared (NIR) light for on-demand drug activation.
- To evaluate the impact of chitosan coating on microparticle properties and drug release kinetics.
Main Methods:
- PLGA microparticles were fabricated using the double emulsion method, co-loaded with vancomycin hydrochloride and indocyanine green (ICG).
- Microparticles were characterized for size, surface charge, morphology, stability, and drug encapsulation efficiency.
- Antibacterial efficacy was assessed through bacterial colony counting following NIR-triggered drug release.
Main Results:
- Chitosan coating increased particle size and altered surface charge, with scanning electron microscopy showing distinct morphology.
- Formulation PVI1 demonstrated high yield (76.67%) and encapsulation efficiency (56.2%).
- NIR irradiation significantly enhanced vancomycin release, with formulation PVI4 showing >48.9% release and improved antibacterial activity; chitosan-coated particles suppressed release without NIR light.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan-coated, NIR-responsive PLGA microparticles show potential for precise, on-demand antibiotic delivery.
- The developed system offers improved antibacterial performance through light-triggered vancomycin release.
- Drug release kinetics followed zero-order and Korsmeyer-Peppas models, indicating controlled release mechanisms.
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