14 March 2024 | Anam Ahsan, Nicky Thomas, Timothy J. Barnes, Santhi Subramaniam, Thou Chen Loh, Paul Joyce and Clive A. Prestidge
The article reviews the use of lipid nanocarriers (LNCs) to deliver antibiotics and antimicrobial adjuvants to combat bacterial biofilms. Biofilms, characterized by a protective EPS matrix, pose significant challenges for antibiotic efficacy due to reduced penetration and increased resistance. Antimicrobial adjuvants, such as EPS-degrading enzymes and quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs), can enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics by targeting biofilm components and bacterial communication systems. LNCs, including liquid crystal nanoparticles (LCNPs), liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), offer superior properties such as biocompatibility, high drug loading capacity, and controlled release. The review highlights recent advances in the development of LNCs for co-delivering antibiotics and adjuvants, comparing their efficacy against biofilms and identifying promising synergistic therapeutics. The use of LNCs can improve the clinical outcomes of antimicrobial treatments, reduce antibiotic resistance, and save lives from bacterial infections.The article reviews the use of lipid nanocarriers (LNCs) to deliver antibiotics and antimicrobial adjuvants to combat bacterial biofilms. Biofilms, characterized by a protective EPS matrix, pose significant challenges for antibiotic efficacy due to reduced penetration and increased resistance. Antimicrobial adjuvants, such as EPS-degrading enzymes and quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs), can enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics by targeting biofilm components and bacterial communication systems. LNCs, including liquid crystal nanoparticles (LCNPs), liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), offer superior properties such as biocompatibility, high drug loading capacity, and controlled release. The review highlights recent advances in the development of LNCs for co-delivering antibiotics and adjuvants, comparing their efficacy against biofilms and identifying promising synergistic therapeutics. The use of LNCs can improve the clinical outcomes of antimicrobial treatments, reduce antibiotic resistance, and save lives from bacterial infections.