Development of erythromycin loaded PLGA nanoparticles for improved drug efficacy and sustained release against bacterial infections and biofilm formation

Bacterial infections are a common cause of sepsis, often leading to high patient mortality. Such infections are challenging to treat due to bacterial resistance to many existing drugs. Erythromycin (Ery) is a macrolide antibiotic used against bacterial infections with reported resistance. Recently, synthetic poly-lactide co-glycolic acid (PLGA) polymer nanoparticles (NPs) have displayed improved drug delivery characteristics and biocompatibility. In this study, PLGA-Ery NPs were synthesized by the o/w emulsion diffusion method, having a particle size of 159 ± 23 nm and displayed 71.89 % of encapsulation efficiency. The PLGA-Ery NPs showed 1.5, 2.1 and 1.5-fold improved MIC and antibacterial efficacy against E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa, respectively than the pure drug. As illustrated by scanning electron microscopy, PLGA-Ery NPs caused damage to the bacterial cell walls. Furthermore, a surface coating with PLGA-Ery NPs on a glass surface showed efficient inhibition (>90 %) of the biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa, as determined by fluorescence microscopy and MTT assay. This study demonstrates that PLGA-Ery NPs can increase the efficiency of erythromycin and can suppress the growth and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa. Such polymeric nanoparticles drug nanoformulations have potential as an antimicrobial and as a surface coating for medical devices.