Self-targeting of zwitterion-based platforms for nano-antimicrobials and nanocarriers

Abstract

Self-targeting antimicrobial platforms have yielded new possibilities for the treatment of infectious biofilms. Self-targeting involves stealth transport through the blood circulation towards an infectious biofilm, where the antimicrobial platform penetrates...

Local Antibiotic Delivery Options in Prosthetic Joint Infection

“…Nanocarriers are complex molecular moieties that respond to internal or external stimuli for activation. Self-targeting carriers can respond to local changes in infected tissue, such as pH, hypoxia, macrophage presence, increased reactive oxygen species, local ligands, bacterial enzymes, or increased local temperature [ 133 ]. Nanocarriers can also respond to external stimuli such as photothermal radiation or ultrasound waves [ 134 , 135 ].…”

“…This can be an antibiotic, antifungal, heavy metal nanoparticle, or other bacterio-toxic substance. They can also be designed to release their antimicrobial substance with enhanced pharmacokinetics compared to current options [ 133 ]. Self-propelled ‘Nanorobots’ can be guided using photothermal stimulation to release their antimicrobial substances into a target area [ 136 ].…”

Self‐Targeted Co‐Delivery of an Antibiotic and a Cancer‐Chemotherapeutic from Synthetic Liposomes for the Treatment of Infected Tumors

“…Recently, so‐called “self‐targeting” nanocarriers have yielded new possibilities for the control of carcinogenic tumors [ 11 ] and bacterial infections. [ 12 ] Self‐targeting is defined as the stealth transportation of a nanocarrier through the blood circulation, during which the nanocarrier directs itself towards a tumor or infection site. Self‐targeting nanocarriers (see Figure ) are mostly equipped with a negatively charged, pH‐responsive functionality that becomes positively‐charged and hydrophilic in an acidic environment, such as a tumor or infection site (pH < 6.8).…”

“…[ 13 ] As a result of these changes, self‐targeting nanocarriers circulating in blood are attracted to negatively‐charged bacterial or tumor cell surfaces by electrostatic double‐layer attraction, allowing penetration and accumulation in a tumor or infectious biofilm. [ 11b,12a ] Liposomes are among the most biocompatible nanocarriers by nature. [ 14 ] Biocompatible synthetic liposomes with self‐targeting features can be made of DCPA‐H 2 O with complexed water as a pH‐responsive functionality and possess a long circulation time in blood due to being hydrophilic and carrying a slightly negative charge.…”