Poly Lactic-<i>co</i>-Glycolic Acid-Coated Toluidine Blue Nanoparticles for the Antibacterial Therapy of Wounds

oleh: Xiaomu Xu, Bo Liu, Haiyan Wu, Yichi Zhang, Xinyuan Tian, Jijing Tian, Tianlong Liu

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-12-01

Deskripsi

Bacterial infections in wounded skin are associated with high mortality. The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria in wounded skin has been a challenge. Toluidine blue (TB) is a safe and inexpensive photosensitizer that can be activated and used in near-infrared photodynamic therapy to effectively kill methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA). However, its aggregation-induced quenching effect largely affects its clinical applications. In this study, TB nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using an ultrasound-assisted coating method. Their physicochemical and biological properties were studied and evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The TBNPs had a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (MRSA) and Gram-negative bacteria (<i>E. coli</i>). In addition, MTT, hemolysis, and acute toxicity tests confirmed that TBNPs had good biocompatibility. The TBNPs exhibited a high photodynamic performance under laser irradiation and efficiently killed <i>E. coli</i> and MRSA through generated reactive oxygen species, which destroyed the cell wall structure. The potential application of TBNPs in vivo was studied using an MRSA-infected wound model. The TBNPs could promote wound healing within 7 days, mainly by reducing the inflammation and promoting collagen deposition and granulation tissue formation. In conclusion, the TBNPs offer a promising strategy for clinical applications against multiple-drug resistance.