Selective Adsorption to Pathogenic Bacteria Augments Antibacterial Activity via Adjusting the Physicochemical Property of Nanoparticles

Abstract

Oral antibiotics are the primary method used to treat bacterial infections in clinical practice. However, the non‐selectivity of antibiotics reduces the efficacy of treatment while also tending to damage normal flora and cause dysbiosis. Obviously, it is crucial to enhance the selectivity of antibiotics against bacteria. It is possible to modulate the physicochemical properties of orally administered nanosystems to achieve selective adsorption to bacteria, thereby achieving improving bactericidal effects. A series of nanoparticles are examined bacterial adhesion characteristics focusing on five aspects: particle size, shape, charge, surface hydrophilicity, and surface modification. Selective adsorption of nanoparticles is investigated pathogenic bacteria (S. aureus as an example), normal bacteria (E. coli as an example), and probiotic bacteria (E. faecium as an example). The results show that ≈50 nm chitosan‐modified spherical Poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles exhibit a stronger adsorption capacity for pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). After loading with amoxicillin, the antibacterial nanoparticles are able to destroy pathogenic bacteria without disrupting the normal intestinal bacterial flora and reducing the typical side effects of ecological disruption caused by broad‐spectrum antibiotics. Thus, this work presents a convenient and versatile strategy for targeting bacteria to enhance the antibacterial efficacy of current antibiotics.