Hyaluronic acid-based nanogels improve in vivo compatibility of the anti-biofilm peptide DJK-5

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Anti-biofilm peptides are a subset of antimicrobial peptides and represent promising broad-spectrum agents for the treatment of bacterial biofilms, though some display host toxicity in vivo. Here we evaluated nanogels composed of modified hyaluronic acid for the encapsulation of the anti-biofilm peptide DJK-5 in vivo. Nanogels of 174 to 194 nm encapsulating 33–60% of peptide were created. Efficacy and toxicity of the nanogels were tested in vivo employing a murine abscess model of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa LESB58 high bacterial density infection. The dose of DJK-5 that could be administered intravenously to mice without inducing toxicity was more than doubled after encapsulation in nanogels. Upon subcutaneous administration, the toxicity of the DJK-5 in nanogels was decreased four-fold compared to non-formulated peptide, without compromising the anti-abscess effect of DJK-5. These findings support the use of nanogels to increase the safety of antimicrobial and anti-biofilm peptides after intravenous and subcutaneous administration.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102022
JournalNanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine
Volume20
ISSN1549-9634
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Research areas

  • Biofilm, Cationic peptide, Drug delivery, Nanogel, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ID: 226872960