Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
6-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
6-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction: Skin is the largest organ of the human body and is a strong barrier against various infections, including bacterial infections. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), over 83 million (1-in-4) individuals visit a dermatologist annually in the United States alone. However, the infection gets established and spreads depending on the individual's immunity and skin conditions. Although several drug options are available for treating skin infections staphylococcus aureus, there are still several drugs that can potentially inhibit this bacterial infection but have yet to be used for several reasons, such as toxicity, solubility, etc. Liposomes can deliver a variety of natural antibacterial/inflammatory agents that are not in use due to their toxicity or solubility.
Objectives: The project is aiming to identify the natural but toxic anti-inflammatory agents (e.g., Garcinol, etc.), load them into one of the modern drug delivery systems known as 'liposomes,' and evaluate the therapeutic effect compared to using a drug without the liposomal systems.
Methods: This project has two phases: The project is in its first phase, where liposomes were prepared using the standard hydration method. Briefly, the method involves hydration of thin lipid film formed upon evaporation of organic solvents into which lipids were dissolved. Lipids 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol were ordered from Avanti-polar lipids (Alabaster, Alabama) and Garcinol was ordered from Cayman Chemicals, (Ann Arbor, Michigan). The drug Garcinol was added to the solvent and loaded into the bilayer. DSPC-cholesterol formulations were prepared using 5:2 w/w ratios. Formulations were tested for the phyisco-chemical characteristics size, zeta potential and drug loading.
In the second phase, the bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties will be tested using the Kirby-Bauer assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determination. Likewise, with the help of advanced testing (e.g., 3D-human cell model and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)), it is now possible to optimize the therapeutic product before it reaches clinical trials.
Results and discussion
Multilamellar vesicles were successfully prepared with and without the incorporation of Garcinol, with no significant differences in their physicochemical properties. The average size of empty liposomes was 106 nm (±4 nm, n=4), which remained unchanged upon Garcinol incorporation (121 nm ±7.2 nm, n=4). Zeta potential measurements indicated a near-neutral charge (±9.6 mV), with no notable variations between formulations (p>0.05, n=4). Drug loading efficiency for bilayer-loaded garcinol was observed to be 43–49%, demonstrating superior encapsulation compared to some previously reported data on lipophilic drug delivery. These findings suggest that the formulated liposomes offer a stable and efficient platform for Garcinol delivery. In conclusion, the aim of work is exploring the potential of liposomes (encapsulating natural anti-inflammatory agents) and to treat bacterial skin infection. The preliminary data generated from this work suggest the liposome can encapsulate garcinol and this formulation can be tested to establish treatment against staphylococcus aureus caused skin infections. This data will be used to explore other avenues such as effect of lipid compositions, co-encapsulation of anti-inflammatory agents, etc.
Embargo Period
5-28-2025
Included in
Liposomal formulation to treat skin infections caused by Staphylococcus Aureus
Suwanee, GA
Introduction: Skin is the largest organ of the human body and is a strong barrier against various infections, including bacterial infections. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), over 83 million (1-in-4) individuals visit a dermatologist annually in the United States alone. However, the infection gets established and spreads depending on the individual's immunity and skin conditions. Although several drug options are available for treating skin infections staphylococcus aureus, there are still several drugs that can potentially inhibit this bacterial infection but have yet to be used for several reasons, such as toxicity, solubility, etc. Liposomes can deliver a variety of natural antibacterial/inflammatory agents that are not in use due to their toxicity or solubility.
Objectives: The project is aiming to identify the natural but toxic anti-inflammatory agents (e.g., Garcinol, etc.), load them into one of the modern drug delivery systems known as 'liposomes,' and evaluate the therapeutic effect compared to using a drug without the liposomal systems.
Methods: This project has two phases: The project is in its first phase, where liposomes were prepared using the standard hydration method. Briefly, the method involves hydration of thin lipid film formed upon evaporation of organic solvents into which lipids were dissolved. Lipids 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol were ordered from Avanti-polar lipids (Alabaster, Alabama) and Garcinol was ordered from Cayman Chemicals, (Ann Arbor, Michigan). The drug Garcinol was added to the solvent and loaded into the bilayer. DSPC-cholesterol formulations were prepared using 5:2 w/w ratios. Formulations were tested for the phyisco-chemical characteristics size, zeta potential and drug loading.
In the second phase, the bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties will be tested using the Kirby-Bauer assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determination. Likewise, with the help of advanced testing (e.g., 3D-human cell model and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)), it is now possible to optimize the therapeutic product before it reaches clinical trials.
Results and discussion
Multilamellar vesicles were successfully prepared with and without the incorporation of Garcinol, with no significant differences in their physicochemical properties. The average size of empty liposomes was 106 nm (±4 nm, n=4), which remained unchanged upon Garcinol incorporation (121 nm ±7.2 nm, n=4). Zeta potential measurements indicated a near-neutral charge (±9.6 mV), with no notable variations between formulations (p>0.05, n=4). Drug loading efficiency for bilayer-loaded garcinol was observed to be 43–49%, demonstrating superior encapsulation compared to some previously reported data on lipophilic drug delivery. These findings suggest that the formulated liposomes offer a stable and efficient platform for Garcinol delivery. In conclusion, the aim of work is exploring the potential of liposomes (encapsulating natural anti-inflammatory agents) and to treat bacterial skin infection. The preliminary data generated from this work suggest the liposome can encapsulate garcinol and this formulation can be tested to establish treatment against staphylococcus aureus caused skin infections. This data will be used to explore other avenues such as effect of lipid compositions, co-encapsulation of anti-inflammatory agents, etc.