Nanoparticles for Signaling in Biodiagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Colino, Clara I.; Millán, Carmen Gutiérrez; Lanao, José M.

The combination of antibiotics and QSI might offer significant synergy such as reducing bacterial virulence factor expression and thus protecting the host and making pathogens more susceptible to immune defense [204] . Likewise, co-encapsulation of other antimicrobial substances together with an antibiotic into liposomes could improve antimicrobial efficacy. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of metals has supported its incorporation into these combinations. Thus, the coencapsulation of gallium with gentamycin in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine:dimirystoil phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol (DPPC:DMPG:Chol) liposomes (Lipo-Ga Gen) showed better antibiofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than the free combination or each compound separately. Only liposome formulation was able to suppress AHL production [205] . Other studies with liposomes combining bismuth-ethanedithiol with tobramycin also showed the superior ability of liposomes inhibiting the production of N-acyl homoserine lactone, and virulence factors elastase, protease and chitinase [205] [206] [207] [208] [209] [210] .