Open AccessIntracellular delivery of nano‐formulated antituberculosis drugs enhances bactericidal activity
Author(s) -
Donnellan Samantha,
Stone Vicki,
Johnston Helinor,
Giardiello Marco,
Owen Andrew,
Rannard Steve,
Aljayyoussi Ghaith,
Swift Benjamin,
Tran Lang,
Watkins Craig,
Stevenson Karen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of interdisciplinary nanomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2058-3273
DOI - 10.1002/jin2.27
Subject(s) - drug , tuberculosis , drug delivery , antibiotics , nanomedicine , drug resistance , multiple drug resistance , pharmacology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , infectious disease (medical specialty) , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , disease , biology , nanotechnology , materials science , nanoparticle , pathology
Tuberculosis kills more people worldwide than any other infectious disease. Treatment requires multiple drug therapy administered over long periods (6–24 months). The emergence of multidrug‐resistant strains is a major problem, and with few new drugs in the pipeline, a novel modus operandi is urgently required. Solid drug nanoparticles (SDNs), a new development in nanomedicine, offer a fresh therapeutic approach. Here, we show that SDNs are more effective (50‐fold) at killing pathogenic mycobacteria than aqueous forms of the same drug and can target mycobacteria internalised by macrophages, where bacilli reside. We demonstrate synthesis of dual and triple drug loaded SDNs, facilitating combination tuberculosis therapy. Our results suggest that by employing SDNs of existing antibiotics, it may be possible to improve drug delivery and therefore reduce drug dosage to lessen side effects and fight drug resistance.