Antibiotic Delivery

Dendrimers are highly branched, tree-like structures with a defined size and shape that make them attractive candidates for antibiotic delivery. They have a large number of surface functional groups that can be used to conjugate antibiotics and targeting molecules, as well as to enhance the solubility and stability of antibiotics.

Nanomaterials for Antibiotic Delivery

Nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for antibiotic delivery due to their unique properties, such as small size, large surface area-to-volume ratio, and ability to be functionalized with various molecules. Nanomaterials can improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects of antibiotics by enhancing drug stability, improving pharmacokinetics, and providing targeted delivery to specific cells or tissues.

Schematic illustration of polymeric nanomaterials for efficient delivery of
antimicrobial agents and their biomedical applications. (Wang Y, Sun H. 2021)

• Liposomes
  Liposomes are spherical nanoparticles composed of a lipid bilayer that can encapsulate antibiotics. They can be functionalized with targeting molecules to deliver antibiotics to specific cells or tissues within the body. Liposomes have been shown to improve the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of antibiotics.
• Polymeric Nanoparticles
  Polymeric nanoparticles are composed of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) or chitosan. They can encapsulate antibiotics and release them slowly over time. Polymeric nanoparticles can also be functionalized with targeting molecules or surface modifiers to improve their pharmacokinetics and efficacy.
• Carbon Nanotubes
  Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical structures composed of carbon atoms. They can be functionalized with antibiotics and have been shown to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against bacterial biofilms.
• Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs)
  MOFs are porous materials composed of metal ions and organic ligands. They have a high surface area and can encapsulate antibiotics. MOFs can also be functionalized with targeting molecules or surface modifiers to improve their pharmacokinetics and efficacy.
• Dendrimers
  Dendrimers are highly branched, tree-like structures that can encapsulate antibiotics. They have a large number of surface functional groups that can be used to conjugate targeting molecules or enhance the solubility and stability of antibiotics.

Dendrimers in Antibiotic Delivery

Here are some ways dendrimers can be used for antibiotic delivery:

• Encapsulation of Antibiotics
  Dendrimers can be used to encapsulate antibiotics, protecting them from degradation and improving their solubility and stability. The encapsulation of antibiotics can also improve their pharmacokinetics and reduce their toxicity.
• Surface Modification with Targeting Molecules
  Dendrimers can be functionalized with targeting molecules, such as antibodies or peptides, to improve their selectivity and specificity for bacterial cells. Targeting molecules can bind to specific receptors on bacterial cells, allowing the dendrimer to selectively deliver antibiotics to the site of infection.
• Surface Modification with Charged Groups
  Dendrimers can be functionalized with charged groups, such as amino or carboxyl groups, to improve their interaction with bacterial cells. The charged groups can enhance the binding of dendrimers to the bacterial cell wall, increasing the uptake of antibiotics by the bacteria.
• Combination with Other Antibacterial Agents
  Dendrimers can be combined with other antibacterial agents, such as silver nanoparticles or essential oils, to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics. The combination of dendrimers with other antibacterial agents can increase their ability to disrupt bacterial membranes, leading to increased bacterial cell death.

Photocaged ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, was attached to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer nanoconjugate for cell wall targeted delivery. (Wong PT, et al., 2016)

How We Can Help

For many years, CD BioSciences has focused on dendrimer research and is committed to providing customized services and innovative products for dendrimers to customers worldwide. CD Biosciences provides the most comprehensive and effective solutions for dendrimer research, helping customers solve all problems encountered during the project to advance the widespread use of dendrimers. Each of our deliverables is subjected to rigorous quality testing to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results. If you are interested in our products or services or have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

References

1. Wang Y.; Sun H. Polymeric Nanomaterials for Efficient Delivery of Antimicrobial Agents. Pharmaceutics. 2021, 13: 2108.
2. Wong PT.; et al. Light-controlled active release of photocaged ciprofloxacin for lipopolysaccharide-targeted drug delivery using dendrimer conjugates. Chem Commun (Camb). 2016, 16: 10357-60.