Chitosan Lecithin Nanoparticles with New Chemical Entity. Antimicrobial Evaluation

Abstract

Chronic wounds are often colonized with biofilm-producing bacteria, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, and these wounds often have high degree of complexity and are often challenging to treat. There is a high resistance to the traditional antimicrobial treatments and that is why these infections sometimes are persistent. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is proposed as a potential solution to the problems of biofilm wound infection. A New Chemical Entity (NCE) together with chitosan lecithin nanoparticles were investigated for potential biofilm elimination. The NCE was entrapped in particles (approximately 350-400 nm) and this resulted in approximately 12 % entrapment. The zeta potential of the NCE-containing nanoparticles was measured to be approximately 10 mV at a pH of just below 3. To evaluate the antimicrobial effect of the NCE in a free form and the NCE-containing nanoparticles the biofilm elimination studies were carried out in both planktonic bacteria and bacteria in biofilm. In addition to evaluation of the NCE exposed to light, an assessment of the NCE without light exposure and empty nanoparticles was performed. The NCE showed a potential as a photodynamic agent, but the biofilm testing conditions need to be optimized prior to further studies.