Liposomes-in-chitosan hydrogel boosts potential of chlorhexidine in biofilm eradication in vitro
Successful treatment of skin infections requires eradication of biofilms found in up to 90 % of all chronic wounds, causing delayed healing and increased morbidity. We hypothesized that chitosan hydrogel boosts the activity of liposomally-associated membrane active antimicrobials (MAA) and could potentially improve bacterial and biofilm eradication. Therefore, liposomes (∼300 nm) bearing chlorhexidine (CHX; ∼50 μg/mg lipid) as a model MAA were incorporated into chitosan hydrogel.
Highlights
Liposomes with chlorhexidine (CHX) were incorporated into chitosan hydrogel.
CHX-liposomes-in-chitosan hydrogel significantly reduced inflammatory response.
CHX-liposomes-in-chitosan hydrogel significantly inhibited biofilm formation.
CHX-liposomes-in-chitosan hydrogel reduced S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms.
The novel CHX-liposomes-in-hydrogel formulation was optimized for skin therapy. It significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage and almost completely reduced biofilm formation. Moreover, it reduced Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherent bacterial cells in biofilm by 64.2–98.1 %. Chitosan hydrogel boosted the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of CHX.
See the full research paper as pdf here: Liposomes-in-chitosan hydrogel boosts potential of chlorhexidine in biofilm eradication in vitro
Article information: Lisa Myrseth Hemmingsen, Barbara Giordani, Ann Kristin Pettersen, Beatrice Vitali, Purusotam Basnet, Nataša Škalko-Basnet. Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 262, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117939.