Flavored Nanofiber Strips Loaded with Amoxicillin as an Alternative Method for Treating Bacterial Infections in Children
Semisynthetic penicillin, Amoxicillin, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is widely used to treat bacterial infections in children suffering ear, nose, and throat infections, genitourinary tract infections, skin infections, and lower respiratory tract infections1. This antibiotic works against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia , Streptococcus pyogene and Escherichia coli1,2. It shows antibacterial activity by inhibiting dd-transpeptidase, which maintains the integrity of the bacterial cell wall which results in bacterial cell death due to a fragile cell wall3. Nonadherence to medication was associated with 50% of drug-related hospitalizations in children4. In order to improve adherence and influence clinical outcome, it is important to acknowledge the importance of drug palatability to children4–6. The currently available liquid suspension form of this antibiotic is administered to patients through oral/GI routes. It is also available in capsules or tablets for adults7–9. In the gastrointestinal tract, the drug has to withstand variable pH conditions and enzymatic degradation , mucus and mucosal barriers to survive resulting in limiting drug bioavailability10,11. In addition to conventional drug delivery formulations, nanofibers can be used to deliver drugs orally, topically, and through buccal or transdermal routes12. Drug-loaded nanofibers offer many advantages as a delivery system, including their porous structure and their efficient delivery of various drugs and bioactive molecules including hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs12–14. Considering that amoxicillin palatability can affect children patients’ compliance and due to the advantages of both nanofiber drug delivery system and drug delivery through buccal routes, hence, this project aims to prepare flavored electrospun nanofibers loaded with amoxicillin to mask the unpleasant taste of the drug for treating children with bacterial infection. Nanofibers loaded with amoxicillin can be applied between the child's gum and cheek, allowing the fibers to dissolve in mucus and penetrate directly into the bloodstream.
Eradicating Cystic Fibrosis Biofilms by a Novel Non-Toxic, Multi-Pathway Salicylate Therapy
1.1. Cystic Fibrosis Biofilms Biofilms are bacterial aggregates in a matrix of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids (Donlan, 2002). They account for 80% of all chronic infections and cause over 500,000 deaths annually. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder characterized by mucus accumulation in the respiratory tracts (Morrison et al., 2020). This impairs mucociliary clearance, allowing chronic colonization by bacterial biofilms, leading to fatal respiratory failure, lung scarring, and necrosis of pulmonary epithelial tissues (Martin et al., 2021). 1.2. Obstacles in Current Treatments Three major therapies are used against CF biofilms: (1) aminoglycoside antibiotics like tobramycin, (2)non-aminoglycoside antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, and (3) non-antibiotic therapies including flushing, chlorination, and ultraviolet disinfection. These have two major flaws. First, they are cytotoxic; 30% of patients experience acute kidney injury after three days of intravenous aminoglycoside therapy (Joyce et al., 2017). Furthermore, non-aminoglycoside therapies can cause phospholipid buildup in lysosomes of proximal tubule epithelial cells, accounting for 10-20% of acute renal failure cases. Second, antibiotic resistance due to horizontal gene transfer and mutations has significantly reduced treatment effectiveness. Therefore, cystic fibrosis biofilms remain a critical threat with few effective treatments. 1.3. Salicylate Derivatives This project tackled this issue using an innovative non-antibiotic approach with salicylate derivatives. Salicylates, a class of benzoic acids—benzene-based carboxylic acids (Figure 1)—used in painkillers and blood thinners, were investigated for their antibiofilm potential through a 3-step process: 1. Literature review: Identified three key biofilm therapeutic targets: quorum sensing, bacterial adhesion, and cell motility. Disrupting these pathways would result in biofilm eradication. 2. Molecule Identification: Recognized key molecules in each pathway: LasR, adhesins, and flagellin. Inhibiting these molecules would disrupt the pathways. 3. Screening: Found that salicylates could inhibit the identified molecules, though they had never been tested against cystic fibrosis biofilms.
Utilizing Flavonoids From the Invasive Species Pilea Melastomoides and Daucus Carota as Well as the Protein PTK-2 to Create a Skin Gel Aimed for Burn Wound Healing.
Burns are a major global health concern especially in developing countries like 印尼, where southeast asian women experience the highest burn incidents globally. Burns can cause severe physical and psychological impacts, with treatments that are critical to reduce complications. This study focuses on the development of organic, cost-effective burn gels using flavonoid compounds which are Quercetin and Myrecetin which are taken from pilea melastomoides leaves, a wild 印尼n plant and carrot (Daucus Carota). These skin extracts aim to accelerate wound healing, minimize pain and prevent infection. The gel formation involves extracting active compounds using 96% ethanol as it has been effectively used for extracting a wide range of bioactive compounds to preserve their quality by preventing microbial contamination, and ensures a high yield of active ingredients suitable for topical applications. Then it goes through a process of Phytochemical screening to confirm the presence of flavonoids by using the Shinoda test. The formulation process included dissolving the HPC-m (Hydroxypropyl Cellulose) as a gelling agent, then adding plant extracts (pilea melastomoides leaves and carrot), as well as combining other ingredients such as propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, sodium metabisulfite, and disodium EDTA. The gel was stirred thoroughly to ensure uniformity and left at room temperature for 48 hours to attain the required consistency. The gel that was formatted went under various quality assessments, first being organoleptic testing. This test is used to evaluate its physical characteristics which includes color aroma, and consistency which confirms a stable dark green appearance and a natural strong scent from the plant extracts. The homogeneity test is used to verify the uniformity distribution of active compounds across the gel, to ensure a consistent efficacy. The pH test showed the gel’s acidity level which remained the safe range for skin application. Additionally, the spreading ability test demonstrated the gel’s excellent application properties, with consistent results across trials. Subsequently, the in silico analysis was conducted to predict the behaviour of specific flavonoid compounds used which is the myricetin and quercetin, highlighting their potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Further bacterial contamination tests confirmed the gel’s antimicrobial efficacy, reducing the risk of infection in wounds. This study demonstrates that the gel, formulated with pilea melastomoides leaves and carrot skin extracts, effectively utilizes flavonoids and other phytochemicals to reduce inflammation, promote tissue regeneration and retain moisture, which fosters an optimal condition for wound healing. This organic and sustainable burn treatment utilizes locally sourced ingredients, providing a natural solution that speeds up recovery, reduces pain and prevents infections. The results highlight its significant potential for wider healthcare use, especially in resource-limited environments.