Rhamnolipid-Based Liposomes as Promising Nano-Carriers for Enhancing the Antibacterial Activity of Peptides Derived from Bacterial Toxin-Antitoxin Systems

Autor(es)

Pecoraro Sanches, Beatriz Cristina ^[1] ; Rocha, Camila Aguiar ^[1] ; Martin Bedoya, Jose Gregorio ^[1] ; da Silva, Vinicius Luiz ^[2] ; da Silva, Patricia Bento ^[3] ; Fusco-Almeida, Ana Marisa ^[4] ; Chorilli, Marlus ^[3] ; Contiero, Jonas ^[2] ; Crusca, Edson ^[1] ; Marchetto, Reinaldo ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Chem, Dept Biochem & Organ Chem, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Biosci, Dept Gen & Appl Biol, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Drugs & Med, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Clin Anal, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE; v. 16, p. 925-939, 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Background: Antimicrobial resistance poses substantial risks to human health. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents, including alternative compounds, such as peptides derived from bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. ParELC3 is a synthetic peptide derived from the ParE toxin reported to be a good inhibitor of bacterial topoisomerases and is therefore a potential antibacterial agent. However, ParELC3 is inactive against bacteria due to its inability to cross the bacterial membranes. To circumvent this limitation we prepared and used rhamnolipid-based liposomes to carry and facilitate the passage of ParELC3 through the bacterial membrane to reach its intracellular target - the topoisomerases. Methods and Results: Small unilamellar liposome vesicles were prepared by sonication from three formulations that included 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol. ParELC3 was loaded with high efficiency into the liposomes. Characterization by DLS and TEM revealed the appropriate size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and morphology. In vitro microbiological experiments showed that ParELC3 loaded-liposomes are more efficient (29 to 11 mu mol.L-1) compared to the free peptide (>100 mu mol.L-1) at inhibiting the growth of standard E. coli and S. aureus strains. RL liposomes showed high hemolytic activity but when prepared with POPC and Chol this activity had a significant reduction. Independently of the formulation, the vesicles had no detectable cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells, even at the highest concentrations tested (1.3 mmol.L-1 and 50 mu mol.L-1 for rhamnolipid and ParELC3, respectively). Conclusion: The present findings suggest the potential use of rhamnolipid-based liposomes as nanocarrier systems to enhance the bioactivity of peptides. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 15/17183-6 - Celulose bacteriana funcionalizada com peptídeos RGD no processo de regeneração tecidual
• Beneficiário: Reinaldo Marchetto
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular