Autonomous Treatment of Bacterial Infections in Vivo Using Antimicrobial Micro- and Nanomotors

Author(s)

Arque, Xavier ; Torres, Marcelo D. T. ; Patino, Tania ; Boaro, Andreia ; Sanchez, Samuel ; de la Fuente-Nunez, Cesar

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS NANO; v. 16, n. 5, p. 12-pg., 2022-05-24.

Abstract

The increasing resistance of bacteria to existing antibiotics constitutes a major public health threat globally. Most current antibiotic treatments are hindered by poor delivery to the infection site, leading to undesired off-target effects and drug resistance development and spread. Here, we describe micro- and nanomotors that effectively and autonomously deliver antibiotic payloads to the target area. The active motion and antimicrobial activity of the silica-based robots are driven by catalysis of the enzyme urease and antimicrobial peptides, respectively. These antimicrobial motors show micromolar bactericidal activity in vitro against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacterial strains and act by rapidly depolarizing their membrane. Finally, they demonstrated autonomous anti-infective efficacy in vivo in a clinically relevant abscess infection mouse model. In summary, our motors combine navigation, catalytic conversion, and bactericidal capacity to deliver antimicrobial payloads to specific infection sites. This technology represents a much-needed tool to direct therapeutics to their target to help combat drug-resistant infections. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10585-4 - Mechanistic aspects regarding the induced decomposition of hydroperoxides and silylperoxides derived from lophine
• Grantee: Andréia Boaro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/15871-3 - Light emitting arginine derivatives as tags for antimicrobial peptides
• Grantee: Andréia Boaro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate