Exosome-encapsulated antibiotic against intracellular infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Pathogen-targeting biomineralized bacterial outer membrane vesicles for eradicating both intracellular and extracellular Staphylococcus aureus

Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus is associated with recurrent infections and antibiotic resistance. Conventional antibiotics are ineffective against such intracellular bacterial pathogens, which calls for exploration of new approaches to treat these infections. Here, we report the development of pathogen-targeting biomineralized bacterial outer membrane vesicle (OMV) for targeted antibiotic delivery and eradicating both intracellular and extracellular S. aureus. These OMVs were derived from E. coli, and chemically modified with hydroxamate-type siderophore to target the intracellular S. aureus. The surface of OMV was coated with pH-sensitive calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to target the infection microenvironment. The CaCO3-coated siderophore-OMV (SOMV@CaCO3) was loaded with the antimicrobial drugs lysostaphin (Lsn) and mupirocin (Mup) (Lsn-SOMV@CaCO3-Mup) and administration of these OMVs resulted in effective eradication of both extracellular and intracellular S. aureus. Thus, Lsn-SOMV@CaCO3-Mup provides a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of invasive S. aureus infections.

pH/Hyal-responsive vancomycin-loaded chitooligosaccharide nanoparticles for intracellular MRSA infection treatment

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is recognized as among the most critical bacterial pathogens globally. A significant portion of the complications associated with S. aureus infections arises from its ability to persist inside host phagocytes, particularly macrophages, making the eradication of intracellular S. aureus vital for therapeutic success. Regrettably, many antibiotics exhibit limited penetration into cells, underscoring the necessity for efficient intracellular delivery mechanisms. In this study, vancomycin-loaded chitooligosaccharide nanoparticles (COS@Van) coated with hyaluronic acid (HA), were engineered to function as an active-targeting antibiotic carrier recorded as HA/COS@Van. The HA coating serves as an external shell, which 1) covers the positive surface charge of COS NPs, thereby enhancing their biocompatibility and extending circulation time, and 2) facilitates targeted delivery to macrophages through specific interactions with the CD44 receptor. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry (FCM) experiments confirmed that HA/COS could effectively accumulate in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infected macrophages. Additionally, when administered intravenously in mouse models, HA/COS demonstrated markedly increased accumulation in the liver, the primary location of infected macrophages. These findings highlight the active-targeting capabilities of HA/COS both in vitro and in vivo settings. Consequently, after being loaded with Van, HA/COS@Van exhibited superior efficacy in killing intracellular MRSA in vitro, as compared to free Van. Furthermore, HA/COS@Van also demonstrated enhanced bactericidal activity in both mouse acute peritonitis model and mouse organ infection model. Therefore, this active-targeting delivery system may hold promise in advancing therapeutic outcomes for infections related to intracellular pathogens.

Long-Acting Extracellular Vesicle-Based Biologics in Osteoarthritis Immunotherapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by low-grade inflammation, cartilage breakdown, and persistent pain. Despite its prevalence, current therapeutic strategies primarily focus on symptom management rather than modifying disease progression. Monoclonal antibodies and cytokine inhibitors targeting inflammatory pathways, including TNF-α and IL-1, have shown promise but remain limited by inconsistent efficacy and safety concerns. Long-acting biologic therapies-ranging from extended-release formulations, such as monoclonal antibodies and cytokine inhibitors, to gene therapy approaches-have emerged as promising strategies to enhance treatment durability and improve patient outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained particular attention as a novel delivery platform due to their inherent stability, biocompatibility, and ability to transport therapeutic cargo, including biologics and immunomodulatory agents, directly to joint tissues. This review explores the evolving role of EVs in OA treatment, highlighting their ability to extend drug half-life, improve targeting, and modulate inflammatory responses. Additionally, strategies for EV engineering, including endogenous and exogenous cargo loading, genetic modifications, and biomaterial-based delivery systems, are discussed.

Collagenase Degradable Biomimetic Nanocages Attenuate Porphyromonas gingivalis Mediated Neurocognitive Dysfunction via Targeted Intracerebral Antimicrobial Photothermal and Gas Therapy

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), a pathogen linked to periodontitis, is reported to be associated with severe neurocognitive dysfunction. However, there are few reports focusing on improving neurological function in the brain by eliminating P.g.. Therefore, we developed a core-shell nanocomposite for targeted intracerebral P.g. clearance and ameliorating neurocognitive impairments, Pt-Au@C-P.g.-MM, consisting of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) encapsulated within Au nanocages (Pt-Au) as the core and a shell made of collagen and macrophage membranes from macrophage pretreated with P.g. (C-P.g.-MM). This design enhanced the nanocomposite's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and specifically target intracerebral P.g. through coating of P.g.-MM. Pt-Au@C-P.g.-MM depended on collagen to neutralize excessive collagenase from P.g., promoting its directed migration toward P.g.. Au nanocages exhibited excellent photothermal effects under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, while Pt NPs also provided an efficient antibacterial gas therapy by generating oxygen to expose anaerobic P.g.. As a result, Pt-Au@C-P.g.-MM contributed to a synergistic antibacterial therapy and significantly reduced P.g. mediated neurocognitive dysfunction in periodontitis mice induced by oral P.g. infection. Based on the insights provided by the transcriptome sequencing analysis, anti-P.g. activity of Pt-Au@C-P.g.-MM facilitated the transition of microglia from the M1 to M2 phenotype by stimulating the PI3K-Akt pathway and reducing neuronal damage through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Egg yolk-derived low-density lipoprotein: A potential drug delivery system to eradicate intracellular bacteria

Antibiotics have limited capacities to penetrate and eliminate intracellular bacteria. This study developed a drug delivery system to surmount the cell-membrane barrier and achieve efficient intracellular antibiotic accumulation for intracellular-bacterial eradication. Ceftiofur (CEF) was encapsulated in hen egg-yolk-extracted low-density lipoproteins (heLDLs) to generate CEF-heLDLs. Based on preliminary research, the drug-loading efficiency was approximately 44.48 % ± 2.35 % (encapsulation rate, approximately 99.31 % ± 0.63 %). CEF-heLDLs exhibited smaller particle sizes and higher absolute zeta potentials than heLDLs, indicating improved dispersibility and stability. In-vitro analyses demonstrated receptor-mediated uptake of CEF-heLDL, with lysosome colocalization. In-vivo localization analyses in mice showed multiorgan distribution characteristics. In-vitro and in-vivo antibacterial experiments showed that CEF-heLDLs displayed superior antibacterial effects against intracellular Staphylococcus aureus compared with free CEF, significantly damaging bacterial cell walls and decreasing intracellular-bacterial survival rates (P < 0.001). CEF-heLDLs significantly reduced mortality in methicillin-resistant S. aureus-infected mice (P < 0.001) compared with free CEF and improved bacterial-induced leukocytosis (P < 0.001). The CEF-heLDL synthesized in this study effectively delivers CEF into cells. Compared to free CEF, it has significantly enhanced efficacy in eliminating intracellular S. aureus, offering a promising novel approach for eradication of intracellular bacteria.

Advances in anti-inflammatory treatment of sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome

Sepsis is characterized by a dysregulated host response to infection, leading to organ dysfunction and associated with significant morbidity and mortality, posing a critical challenge to global public health. Among its complications, sepsis frequently causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which has a high incidence and mortality rate, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). Currently, the management of sepsis-induced ARDS is largely limited to supportive care, as no specific pharmacological treatments are available. The progression of sepsis to ARDS is driven by severe inflammation and cytokine storms, highlighting the importance of anti-inflammatory therapies as a primary treatment focus. We summarize conventional drugs and emerging treatments targeting excessive inflammatory responses in sepsis-associated ARDS, reviewing progress in basic research and clinical trials. Additionally, we discuss current research challenges to propose future directions for anti-inflammatory treatments, aiming to develop highly effective drugs with better clinical translation potential.

Harnessing the Potential of Exosomes in Therapeutic Interventions for Brain Disorders

Exosomes, which are nano-sized natural vesicles secreted by cells, are crucial for intercellular communication and interactions, playing a significant role in various physiological and pathological processes. Their characteristics, such as low toxicity and immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, and remarkable drug delivery capabilities-particularly their capacity to traverse the blood-brain barrier-make exosomes highly promising vehicles for drug administration in the treatment of brain disorders. This review provides a comprehensive overview of exosome biogenesis and isolation techniques, strategies for the drug loading and functionalization of exosomes, and exosome-mediated blood-brain barrier penetration mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on recent advances in exosome-based drug delivery for brain disorders. Finally, we address the opportunities and challenges associated with utilizing exosomes as a drug delivery system for the brain, summarizing the barriers to clinical translation and proposing future research directions.

Overcoming drug resistance through extracellular vesicle-based drug delivery system in cancer treatment

Drug resistance is a major challenge in cancer therapy that often leads to treatment failure and disease relapse. Despite advancements in chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies, cancers often develop drug resistance, making these treatments ineffective. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained attention for their potential applications in drug delivery because of their natural origin, biocompatibility, and ability to cross biological barriers. Using the unique properties of EVs could enhance drug accumulation at target sites, minimize systemic toxicity, and precisely target specific cells. Here, we discuss the characteristics and functionalization of EVs, the mechanisms of drug resistance, and the applications of engineered EVs to overcome drug resistance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in EV-based drug delivery systems and their applications in overcoming cancer drug resistance. We highlight the potential of EV-based drug delivery systems to revolutionize cancer therapy and offer promising strategies for more effective treatment modalities.

Antibody-antibiotic conjugate targeted therapy for orthopedic implant-associated intracellular S. aureus infections

INTRODUCTION

Treating orthopedic implant-associated infections, especially those caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), remains a significant challenge. S. aureus has the ability to invade host cells, enabling it to evade both antibiotics and immune responses during infection, which may result in clinical treatment failures. Therefore, it is critical to identify the host cell type of implant-associated intracellular S. aureus infections and to develop a strategy for highly targeted delivery of antibiotics to the host cells.

OBJECTIVES

Introduced an antibody-antibiotic conjugate (AAC) for the targeted elimination of intracellular S. aureus.

METHODS

The AAC comprises of a human monoclonal antibody (M0662) directly recognizes the surface antigen of S. aureus, Staphylococcus protein A, which is conjugated with vancomycin through cathepsin-sensitive linkers that are cleavable in the proteolytic environment of the intracellular phagolysosome. AAC, vancomycin and vancomycin combined with AAC were used in vitro intracellular infection and mice implant infection models. We then tested the effect of AAC in vivo and in vivo by fluorescence imaging, in vivo imaging, bacterial quantitative analysis and bacterial biofilm imaging.

RESULTS

In vitro, it was observed that AAC captured extracellular S. aureus and co-entered the cells, and subsequently released vancomycin to induce rapid elimination of intracellular S. aureus. In the implant infection model, AAC significantly improved the bactericidal effect of vancomycin. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the application of AAC effectively blocked the formation of bacterial biofilm. Further histochemical and micro-CT analysis showed AAC significantly reduced the level of bone marrow density (BMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) reduction caused by bacterial infection in the distal femur of mice compared to vancomycin treatment alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of AAC in an implant infection model showed that it significantly improved the bactericidal effects of vancomycin and effectively blocked the formation of bacterial biofilms, without apparent toxicity to the host.

Preparation of ceftiofur-encapsulated hen-egg low-density lipoproteins and their antibacterial effects on intracellular Staphylococcus aureus

Hen egg low-density lipoprotein (heLDL), as alternative of serum-derived LDL, was used as drug delivery system of ceftiofur (CEF). The CEF-loaded hen egg low-density lipoprotein (CEF-heLDL) with complete apolipoprotein structure and high drug loading rate was synthesized, possesses suitable particle size. CEF-heLDL undergoes cellular uptake and colocalizes with lysosomes in vitro. An intracellular infection model of the bovine endometrial epithelial cells and a coeliac-induced inflammation model of mice by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were established, and significantly lower intracellular S. aureus levels of CEF-heLDL group than CEF-free group (P < 0.001) was observed. The antibacterial efficacy was sustained for 24 h. Up to 400 mg/kg of CEF-heLDL, 20 times the clinical practice, were intraperitoneally administrated, and no significant toxicity signs on mice were observed. HeLDLs is an effective, safe, and cheap drug carrier, and could also be used for transmembrane delivering other antibiotics.

Unveiling the promise: Exosomes as game-changers in anti-infective therapy

Extracellular vesicles (EVs)-based intercellular communication (through exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies) is conserved across all kingdoms of life. In recent years, exosomes have gained much attention for targeted pharmaceutical administration due to their unique features, nanoscale size, and capacity to significantly contribute to cellular communication. As drug delivery vehicles, exosomes have several advantages over alternative nanoparticulate drug delivery technologies. A key advantage lies in their comparable makeup to the body's cells, which makes them non-immunogenic. However, exosomes vesicles face several challenges, including a lack of an effective and standard production technique, decreased drug loading capacity, limited characterization techniques, and underdeveloped isolation and purification procedures. Exosomes are well known for their long-term safety and natural ability to transport intercellular nucleic acids and medicinal compounds across the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Therefore, in addition to revealing new insights into exosomes' distinctiveness, the growing availability of new analytical tools may drive the development of next-generation synthetic systems. Herein, light is shed on exosomes as drug delivery vehicles in anti-infective therapy by reviewing the literature on primary articles published between 2002 and 2023. Additionally, the benefits and limitations of employing exosomes as vehicles for therapeutic drug delivery are also discussed.

Seeking Cells, Targeting Bacteria: A Cascade-Targeting Bacteria-Responsive Nanosystem for Combating Intracellular Bacterial Infections

Intracellular bacteria pose a great challenge to antimicrobial therapy due to various physiological barriers at both cellular and bacterial levels, which impede drug penetration and intracellular targeting, thereby fostering antibiotic resistance and yielding suboptimal treatment outcomes. Herein, a cascade-target bacterial-responsive drug delivery nanosystem, MM@SPE NPs, comprising a macrophage membrane (MM) shell and a core of SPE NPs. SPE NPs consist of phenylboronic acid-grafted dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (SP NPs) encapsulated with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a non-antibiotic antibacterial component, via pH-sensitive boronic ester bonds are introduced. Upon administration, MM@SPE NPs actively home in on infected macrophages due to the homologous targeting properties of the MM shell, which is subsequently disrupted during cellular endocytosis. Within the cellular environment, SPE NPs expose and spontaneously accumulate around intracellular bacteria through their bacteria-targeting phenylboronic acid groups. The acidic bacterial microenvironment further triggers the breakage of boronic ester bonds between SP NPs and EGCG, allowing the bacterial-responsive release of EGCG for localized intracellular antibacterial effects. The efficacy of MM@SPE NPs in precisely eliminating intracellular bacteria is validated in two rat models of intracellular bacterial infections. This cascade-targeting responsive system offers new solutions for treating intracellular bacterial infections while minimizing the risk of drug resistance.

Recent Progress in Multifunctional Stimuli-Responsive Combinational Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Biofilm-Forming Bacterial Infections

Drug-resistant infectious diseases pose a substantial challenge and threat to medical regimens. While adaptive laboratory evolution provides foresight for encountering such situations, it has inherent limitations. Novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) have garnered attention for overcoming these hurdles. Multi-stimuli responsive DDSs are particularly effective due to their reduced background leakage and targeted drug delivery to specific host sites for pathogen elimination. Bacterial infections create an acidic state in the microenvironment (pH: 5.0-5.5), which differs from normal physiological conditions (pH: 7.4). Infected areas are characterized by the overexpression of hyaluronidase, gelatinase, phospholipase, and other virulence factors. Consequently, several effective stimuli-responsive DDSs have been developed to target bacterial pathogens. Additionally, biofilms, structured communities of bacteria encased in a self-produced polymeric matrix, pose a significant challenge by conferring resistance to conventional antimicrobial treatments. Recent advancements in nano-drug delivery systems (nDDSs) show promise in enhancing antimicrobial efficacy by improving drug absorption and targeting within the biofilm matrix. nDDSs can deliver antimicrobials directly to the biofilm, facilitating more effective eradication of these resilient bacterial communities. Herein, this review examines challenges in DDS development, focusing on enhancing antibacterial activity and eradicating biofilms without adverse effects. Furthermore, advances in immune system modulation and photothermal therapy are discussed as future directions for the treatment of bacterial diseases.

Engineered exosomes as a prospective therapy for diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), characterized by high recurrence rate, amputations and mortality, poses a significant challenge in diabetes management. The complex pathology involves dysregulated glucose homeostasis leading to systemic and local microenvironmental complications, including peripheral neuropathy, micro- and macro-angiopathy, recurrent infection, persistent inflammation and dysregulated re-epithelialization. Novel approaches to accelerate DFU healing are actively pursued, with a focus on utilizing exosomes. Exosomes are natural nanovesicles mediating cellular communication and containing diverse functional molecular cargos, including DNA, mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), lncRNA, proteins, lipids and metabolites. While some exosomes show promise in modulating cellular function and promoting ulcer healing, their efficacy is limited by low yield, impurities, low loading content and inadequate targeting. Engineering exosomes to enhance their curative activity represents a potentially more efficient approach for DFUs. This could facilitate focused repair and regeneration of nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue after ulcer development. This review provides an overview of DFU pathogenesis, strategies for exosome engineering and the targeted therapeutic application of engineered exosomes in addressing critical pathological changes associated with DFUs.

Deciphering the Drug Delivery Potential of Milk Exosome Nanovesicles for Aminobenzylpenicillin Therapeutic Efficacy against Contagious Staphylococcus Aureus in Bovine Mastitis

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance and failure of antibiotic treatment are challenging tasks for managing bovine mastitis, which is mainly caused by the contagious Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).To overcome these difficulties, there is an urgent need for a novel drug system. In the present study, the aim is to develop next-generation therapeutics against S. aureus by harnessing the drug delivery potential of milk nanovesicles called milk exosomes (mENs). In the present work, a drug system is developed by encapsulating aminobenzylpenicillin (AMP) in mENs (mENs-AMP). Electron microscopy and zeta-sizer results indicate that the size of mENs-AMP ranged from 55.79 ± 2.8 to 85.53 ± 7.4 nm. The AMP loading efficiency in mENs is 88.61% with its sustained release. Fluorescence spectroscopy results indicated that mENs are biocompatible with mammary epithelial cells. In vitro studies show that the antibacterial activity and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of mENs-AMP are eleven times greater and four times lower than that of unencapsulated AMP, respectively. The mENs-AMP exhibit significantly higher therapeutic efficacy than AMP at the same dosage and treatment frequency. Validation of this approach is demonstrated in mastitis-affected animals through an observation in the reduction of somatic cell counts and bacterial loads in the milk of treated animals.

Roles of extracellular vesicles on macrophages in inflammatory bone diseases

Inflammatory bone disease is a general term for a series of diseases caused by chronic inflammation, which leads to the destruction of bone homeostasis, that is, the osteolytic activity of osteoclasts increases, and the osteogenic activity of osteoblasts decreases, leading to osteolysis. Macrophages are innate immune cell with plasticity, and their polarization is related to inflammatory bone diseases. The dynamic balance of macrophages between the M1 phenotype and the M2 phenotype affects the occurrence and development of diseases. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that extracellular vesicles existing in the extracellular environment can act on macrophages, affecting the progress of inflammatory diseases. This process is realized by influencing the physiological activity or functional activity of macrophages, inducing macrophages to secrete cytokines, and playing an anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory role. In addition, by modifying and editing extracellular vesicles, the potential of targeting macrophages can be used to provide new ideas for developing new drug carriers for inflammatory bone diseases.

The Emerging Role of Human Gut Bacteria Extracellular Vesicles in Mental Disorders and Developing New Pharmaceuticals

In recent years, further evidence has emerged regarding the involvement of extracellular vesicles in various human physiopathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and mental disorders. The biogenesis and cargo of such vesicles may reveal their impact on human health nd disease and set the underpinnings for the development of novel chemical compounds and pharmaceuticals. In this review, we examine the link between bacteria-derived exosomes in the gastrointestinal tract and mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Crucially, we focus on whether changes in the gut environment affect the human mental state or the other way around. Furthermore, the possibility of handling bacteria-derived exosomes as vectors of chemicals to treat such conditions is examined.

Novel SmartReservoirs for hydrogel-forming microneedles to improve the transdermal delivery of rifampicin

Hydrogel-forming microneedles (HF-MNs) are composed of unique cross-linked polymers that are devoid of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) within the microneedle array. Instead, the API is housed in a reservoir affixed on the top of the baseplate of the HF-MNs. To date, various types of drug-reservoirs and multiple solubility-enhancing approaches have been employed to deliver hydrophobic molecules combined with HF-MNs. These strategies are not without drawbacks, as they require multiple manufacturing steps, from solubility enhancement to reservoir production. However, this current study challenges this trend and focuses on the delivery of the hydrophobic antibiotic rifampicin using SmartFilm-technology as a solubility-enhancing strategy. In contrast to previous techniques, smart drug-reservoirs (SmartReservoirs) for hydrophobic compounds can be manufactured using a one step process. In this study, HF-MNs and three different concentrations of rifampicin SmartFilms (SFs) were produced. Following this, both HF-MNs and SFs were fully characterised regarding their physicochemical and mechanical properties, morphology, Raman surface mapping, the interaction with the cellulose matrix and maintenance of the loaded drug in the amorphous form. In addition, their drug loading and transdermal permeation efficacy were studied. The resulting SFs showed that the API was intact inside the cellulose matrix within the SFs, with the majority of the drug in the amorphous state. SFs alone demonstrated no transdermal penetration and less than 20 ± 4 μg of rifampicin deposited in the skin layers. In contrast, the transdermal permeation profile using SFs combined with HF-MNs (i.e. SmartReservoirs) demonstrated a 4-fold increase in rifampicin deposition (80 ± 7 μg) in the skin layers and a permeation of approx. 500 ± 22 μg. Results therefore illustrate that SFs can be viewed as novel drug-reservoirs (i.e. SmartReservoirs) for HF-MNs, achieving highly efficient loading and diffusion properties through the hydrogel matrix.

Engineered and Mimicked Extracellular Nanovesicles for Therapeutic Delivery

Exosomes are spherical extracellular nanovesicles with an endosomal origin and unilamellar lipid-bilayer structure with sizes ranging from 30 to 100 nm. They contain a large range of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid species, depending on the state and origin of the extracellular vesicle (EV)-secreting cell. EVs' function is to encapsulate part of the EV-producing cell content, to transport it through biological fluids to a targeted recipient, and to deliver their cargos specifically within the aimed recipient cells. Therefore, exosomes are considered to be potential biological drug-delivery systems that can stably deliver their cargo into targeted cells. Various cell-derived exosomes are produced for medical issues, but their use for therapeutic purposes still faces several problems. Some of these difficulties can be avoided by resorting to hemisynthetic approaches. We highlight here the uses of alternative exosome-mimes involving cell-membrane coatings on artificial nanocarriers or the hybridization between exosomes and liposomes. We also detail the drug-loading strategies deployed to make them drug-carrier systems and summarize the ongoing clinical trials involving exosomes or exosome-like structures. Finally, we summarize the open questions before considering exosome-like disposals for confident therapeutic delivery.

Periodontal ligament stem cell-derived exosome-loaded Emodin mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against cariogenic bacteria

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of periodontal ligament (PDL) stem cell-derived exosome-loaded Emodin (Emo@PDL-Exo) in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus as the cariogenic bacteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After isolating and characterizing PDL-Exo, the study proceeded to prepare and verify the presence of Emo@PDL-Exo. The antimicrobial effect, anti-biofilm activity, and anti-metabolic potency of Emo, PDL-Exo, and Emo@PDL-Exo were then evaluated with and without irradiation of blue laser at a wavelength of 405 ± 10 nm with an output intensity of 150 mW/cm2 for a duration of 60 s. In addition, the study assessed the binding affinity of Emodin with GtfB and SlpA proteins using in silico molecular docking. Eventually, the study examined the generation of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in the gene expression levels of gelE and sprE.

RESULTS

The study found that using Emo@PDL-Exo-mediated aPDT resulted in a significant decrease in L. acidophilus and S. mutans by 4.90 ± 0.36 and 5.07 log10 CFU/mL, respectively (P < 0.05). The study found that using Emo@PDL-Exo for aPDT significantly reduced L. acidophilus and S. mutans biofilms by 44.7% and 50.4%, respectively, compared to untreated biofilms in the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the metabolic activity of L. acidophilus and S. mutans decreased by 58.3% and 71.2%, respectively (P < 0.05). The molecular docking analysis showed strong binding affinities of Emodin with SlpA and GtfB proteins, with docking scores of -7.4 and -8.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The study also found that the aPDT using Emo@PDL-Exo group resulted in the most significant reduction in gene expression of slpA and gtfB, with a decrease of 4.2- and 5.6-folds, respectively, compared to the control group (P < 0.05), likely due to the increased generation of endogenous ROS.

DISCUSSION

The study showed that aPDT using Emo@PDL-Exo can effectively reduce the cell viability, biofilm activity, and metabolic potency of S. mutans and L. acidophilus. aPDT also significantly reduced the expression levels of gtfB and slpA mRNA due to the increased endogenous ROS generation. The findings suggest that Emo@PDL-Exo-mediated aPDT could be a promising antimicrobial approach against cariogenic microorganisms.

Kaempferia parviflora Extracellular Vesicle Loaded with Clarithromycin for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Purpose

Kaempferia parviflora extracellular vesicles (KPEVs) have been reported as promising nanovesicles for drug delivery. This study aimed to load clarithromycin (CLA) into KPEVs (KPEVS-CLA) and determine the physical properties, drug-releasing efficiency, gastric cell uptake, anti-H. pylori activities, and anti-inflammatory responses in comparison with free CLA and KPEVs.

Methods

The size and surface charge of KPEVs-CLA were evaluated using dynamic light scattering and visualized using a transmission electron microscope. The encapsulation efficiency (EE%), loading capacity (LC%), and drug release of KPEVs-CLA were examined using HPLC. Anti-H. pylori growth and anti-adhesion were evaluated. IL-8 gene expression, NF-κB signaling proteins, and anti-inflammatory profiles were examined using qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and Bio-Plex immunoassay, respectively. Anti-chemotaxis was then examined using a Transwell assay.

Results

KPEVs-CLA were intact and showed a negative surface charge similar to that of KPEVs. However, slightly enlarged KPEVs were observed. CLA was successfully loaded into KPEVs with EE of 93.45% ± 2.43%, LC of 9.3% ± 3.02%. CLA release in the PBS and gastric mimic buffer with Fickian diffusion (n ≤ 0.43) according to Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model (R2=0.98). KPEVs-CLA was localized in the gastric cells' cytoplasm and perinuclear region. Anti-H. pylori growth and anti-H. pylori adhesion of KPEVs-CLA were compared with those of free CLA with no cytotoxicity to adenocarcinoma gastric cells. KPEVs-CLA significantly reduced IL-8, G-CSF, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β levels. Moreover, KPEVs-CLA showed a superior effect over CLA in reducing G-CSF, MIP-1α, and NF-κB phosphorylation and monocyte chemotactic activities.

Conclusion

KPEVs serve as potential carriers of CLA. They exhibited a higher efficiency in inhibiting gastric cell inflammation mediated by H. pylori infection than free CLA. The establishment of KPEVs-CLA as a nanodrug delivery model for H. pylori treatment could be applied to other plant extracellular vesicles or loaded with other cancer drugs for gastric cancer treatment.

A macrophage cell membrane-coated cascade-targeting photothermal nanosystem for combating intracellular bacterial infections

Current antibacterial interventions encounter formidable challenges when confronting intracellular bacteria, attributable to their clustering within phagocytes, particularly macrophages, evading host immunity and resisting antibiotics. Herein, we have developed an intelligent cell membrane-based nanosystem, denoted as MM@DAu NPs, which seamlessly integrates cascade-targeting capabilities with controllable antibacterial functions for the precise elimination of intracellular bacteria. MM@DAu NPs feature a core comprising D-alanine-functionalized gold nanoparticles (DAu NPs) enveloped by a macrophage cell membrane (MM) coating. Upon administration, MM@DAu NPs harness the intrinsic homologous targeting ability of their macrophage membrane to infiltrate bacteria-infected macrophages. Upon internalization within these host cells, exposed DAu NPs from MM@DAu NPs selectively bind to intracellular bacteria through the bacteria-targeting agent, D-alanine present on DAu NPs. This intricate process establishes a cascade mechanism that efficiently targets intracellular bacteria. Upon exposure to near-infrared irradiation, the accumulated DAu NPs surrounding intracellular bacteria induce local hyperthermia, enabling precise clearance of intracellular bacteria. Further validation in animal models infected with the typical intracellular bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, substantiates the exceptional cascade-targeting efficacy and photothermal antibacterial potential of MM@DAu NPs in vivo. Therefore, this integrated cell membrane-based cascade-targeting photothermal nanosystem offers a promising approach for conquering persistent intracellular infections without drug resistance risks. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Intracellular bacterial infections lead to treatment failures and relapses because intracellular bacteria could cluster within phagocytes, especially macrophages, evading the host immune system and resisting antibiotics. Herein, we have developed an intelligent cell membrane-based nanosystem MM@DAu NPs, which is designed to precisely eliminate intracellular bacteria through a controllable cascade-targeting photothermal antibacterial approach. MM@DAu NPs combine D-alanine-functionalized gold nanoparticles with a macrophage cell membrane coating. Upon administration, MM@DAu NPs harness the homologous targeting ability of macrophage membrane to infiltrate bacteria-infected macrophages. Upon internalization, exposed DAu NPs from MM@DAu NPs selectively bind to intracellular bacteria through the bacteria-targeting agent, enabling precise clearance of intracellular bacteria through local hyperthermia. This integrated cell membrane-based cascade-targeting photothermal nanosystem offers a promising avenue for conquering persistent intracellular infections without drug resistance risks.

The Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan/Calcium Phosphate Composite Microspheres for Biomedical Applications

In this study, we successfully prepared porous composite microspheres composed of hydroxyapatite (HAp), di-calcium phosphate di-hydrated (DCPD), and chitosan through the hydrothermal method. The chitosan played a crucial role as a chelating agent to facilitate the growth of related calcium phosphates. The synthesized porous composite microspheres exhibit a specific surface area of 38.16 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.24 cm3/g, with the pore size ranging from 4 to 100 nm. Given the unique properties of chitosan and the exceptional porosity of these composite microspheres, they may serve as carriers for pharmaceuticals. After being annealed, the chitosan transforms into a condensed form and the DCPD transforms into Ca2P2O7 at 300 °C. Then, the Ca2P2O7 initially combines with HAp to transform into β tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) at 500 °C where the chitosan is also completely combusted. Finally, the microspheres are composed of Ca2P2O7, β-TCP, and HAp, also making them suitable for applications such as injectable bone graft materials.

Recent Advances and Techniques for Identifying Novel Antibacterial Targets

BACKGROUND

With the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, the development of new antibiotics is urgently required. Target-based drug discovery is the most frequently employed approach for the drug development process. However, traditional drug target identification techniques are costly and time-consuming. As research continues, innovative approaches for antibacterial target identification have been developed which enabled us to discover drug targets more easily and quickly.

METHODS

In this review, methods for finding drug targets from omics databases have been discussed in detail including principles, procedures, advantages, and potential limitations. The role of phage-driven and bacterial cytological profiling approaches is also discussed. Moreover, current article demonstrates the advancements being made in the establishment of computational tools, machine learning algorithms, and databases for antibacterial target identification.

RESULTS

Bacterial drug targets successfully identified by employing these aforementioned techniques are described as well.

CONCLUSION

The goal of this review is to attract the interest of synthetic chemists, biologists, and computational researchers to discuss and improve these methods for easier and quicker development of new drugs.

Exosomes: Friends or Foes in Microbial Infections?

The use of new approaches is necessary to address the global issue of infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising approach that reduces the emergence of drug resistance, and no resistance has been reported thus far. APDT involves using a photosensitizer (PS), a light source, and oxygen. The mechanism of aPDT is that a specific wavelength of light is directed at the PS in the presence of oxygen, which activates the PS and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), consequently causing damage to microbial cells. However, due to the PS's poor stability, low solubility in water, and limited bioavailability, it is necessary to employ drug delivery platforms to enhance the effectiveness of PS in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Exosomes are considered a desirable carrier for PS due to their specific characteristics, such as low immunogenicity, innate stability, and high ability to penetrate cells, making them a promising platform for drug delivery. Additionally, exosomes also possess antimicrobial properties, although in some cases, they may enhance microbial pathogenicity. As there are limited studies on the use of exosomes for drug delivery in microbial infections, this review aims to present significant points that can provide accurate insights.

A dual mechanism with H2S inhibition and membrane damage of morusin from Morus alba Linn. against MDR-MRSA

It's urgent to discover new antibiotics along with the increasing emergence and dissemination of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens. In the present investigation, morusin exhibited rapid bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) by targeting the phospholipid of bacterial inner membrane, increasing membrane rigidity and disrupting bacterial homeostasis together with the membrane permeability, which caused fundamental metabolic disorders. Furthermore, morusin can also accumulate ROS, suppress H2S production, and aggravate oxidative damage in bacteria. Importantly, morusin also inhibited the spread of wounds and reduced the bacterial burden in the mouse model of skin infection caused by MRSA. It's a chance to meet the challenge of existing antibiotic resistance and avoid the development of bacterial resistance, given the multiple targets of morusin.

Potential therapeutic effects of milk-derived exosomes on intestinal diseases

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with the diameter of 30 ~ 150 nm, and are widely involved in intercellular communication, disease diagnosis and drug delivery carriers for targeted disease therapy. Therapeutic application of exosomes as drug carriers is limited due to the lack of sources and methods for obtaining adequate exosomes. Milk contains abundant exosomes, several studies have shown that milk-derived exosomes play crucial roles in preventing and treating intestinal diseases. In this review, we summarized the biogenesis, secretion and structure, current novel methods used for the extraction and identification of exosomes, as well as discussed the role of milk-derived exosomes in treating intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, colorectal cancer, and intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury by regulating intestinal immune homeostasis, restoring gut microbiota composition and improving intestinal structure and integrity, alleviating conditions such as oxidative stress, cell apoptosis and inflammation, and reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lysosome accumulation in both humans and animals. In addition, we discussed future prospects for the standardization of milk exosome production platform to obtain higher concentration and purity, and complete exosomes derived from milk. Several in vivo clinical studies are needed to establish milk-derived exosomes as an effective and efficient drug delivery system, and promote its application in the treatment of various diseases in both humans and animals.

Innovative Phospholipid Carriers: A Viable Strategy to Counteract Antimicrobial Resistance

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria strains, usually associated with poorer patient outcomes and higher costs. In order to preserve the usefulness of these life-saving drugs, it is crucial to use them appropriately, as also recommended by the WHO. Moreover, innovative, safe, and more effective approaches are being investigated, aiming to revise drug treatments to improve their pharmacokinetics and distribution and to reduce the onset of drug resistance. Globally, to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), guidelines and indications have been developed over time, aimed at narrowing the use and diminishing the environmental spread of these life-saving molecules by optimizing prescriptions, dosage, and times of use, as well as investing resources into obtaining innovative formulations with better pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic results. This has led to the development of new nano-formulations as drug delivery vehicles, characterized by unique structural properties, biocompatible natures, and targeted activities such as state-of-the-art phospholipid particles generally grouped as liposomes, virosomes, and functionalized exosomes, which represent an attractive and innovative delivery approach. Liposomes and virosomes are chemically synthesized carriers that utilize phospholipids whose nature is predetermined based on their use, with a long track record as drug delivery systems. Exosomes are vesicles naturally released by cells, which utilize the lipids present in their cellular membranes only, and therefore, are highly biocompatible, with investigations as a delivery system having a more recent origin. This review will summarize the state of the art on microvesicle research, liposomes, virosomes, and exosomes, as useful and effective tools to tackle the threat of antibiotic resistance.

Antimicrobial-loaded biodegradable nanoemulsions for efficient clearance of intracellular pathogens in bacterial peritonitis

Intracellular pathogenic bacteria use immune cells as hosts for bacterial replication and reinfection, leading to challenging systemic infections including peritonitis. The spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and the added barrier presented by host cell internalization limit the efficacy of standard antibiotic therapies for treating intracellular infections. We present a non-antibiotic strategy to treat intracellular infections. Antimicrobial phytochemicals were stabilized and delivered by polymer-stabilized biodegradable nanoemulsions (BNEs). BNEs were fabricated using different phytochemicals, with eugenol-loaded BNEs (E-BNEs) affording the best combination of antimicrobial efficacy, macrophage accumulation, and biocompatibility. The positively-charged polymer groups of the E-BNEs bind to the cell surface of macrophages, facilitating the entry of eugenol that then kills the intracellular bacteria without harming the host cells. Confocal imaging and flow cytometry confirmed that this entry occurred mainly via cholesterol-dependent membrane fusion. As eugenol co-localized and interacted with intracellular bacteria, antibacterial efficacy was maintained. E-BNEs reversed the immunosuppressive effects of MRSA on macrophages. Notably, E-BNEs did not elicit resistance selection after multiple exposures of MRSA to sub-therapeutic doses. The E-BNEs were highly effective against a murine model of MRSA-induced peritonitis with better bacterial clearance (99 % bacteria reduction) compared to clinically-employed treatment with vancomycin. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of E-BNEs in treating peritonitis and other refractory intracellular infections.

Evaluation of anti-biofilm effect of antimicrobial sonodynamic therapy-based periodontal ligament stem cell-derived exosome-loaded kojic acid on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm

Introduction. Antimicrobial sonodynamic therapy (aSDT) is an approach that uses ultrasound waves (UWs) and a sonosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage microbial cells in biofilms. Using nano-carriers, such as exosomes (Exos), to deliver the sonosensitizer can potentially enhance the effectiveness of aSDT.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. aSDT can downregulate the expression of gelE and sprE genes, increasing the production of endogenous ROS and degradation of pre-formed Enterococcus faecalis biofilms.Aim. This study investigated the anti-biofilm effect of aSDT-based periodontal ligament stem cell-derived exosome-loaded kojic acid (KA@PDL-Exo) on pre-formed E. faecalis biofilms in root canals.Methodology. Following the isolation and characterization of PDL-Exo, KA@PDL-Exo was prepared and confirmed. The minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of KA, PDL-Exo, KA@PDL-Exo and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was determined, and their anti-biofilm effects were assessed with and without UWs. The binding affinity of KA with GelE and SprE proteins was evaluated using in silico molecular docking. Additionally, the study measured the generation of endogenous ROS and evaluated changes in the gene expression levels of gelE and sprE.Results. The results revealed a dose-dependent decrease in the viability of E. faecalis cells within biofilms. KA@PDL-Exo was the most effective, with an MBIC of 62.5 µg ml-1, while NaOCl, KA and PDL-Exo had MBIC values of 125, 250 and 500 µg ml-1, respectively. The use of KA@PDL-Exo-mediated aSDT resulted in a significant reduction of the E. faecalis biofilm (3.22±0.36 log10 c.f.u. ml-1; P<0.05). The molecular docking analysis revealed docking scores of -5.3 and -5.2 kcal mol-1 for GelE-KA an SprE-KA, respectively. The findings observed the most significant reduction in gene expression of gelE and sprE in the KA@PDL-Exo group, with a decrease of 7.9- and 9.3-fold, respectively, compared to the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion. The KA@PDL-Exo-mediated aSDT was able to significantly reduce the E. faecalis load in pre-formed biofilms, decrease the expression of gelE and srpE mRNA, and increase the generation of endogenous ROS. These findings imply that KA@PDL-Exo-mediated aSDT could be a promising anti-biofilm strategy that requires additional in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Natural antibacterial agent-based nanoparticles for effective treatment of intracellular MRSA infection

Intracellular MRSA is extremely difficult to eradicate by traditional antibiotics, leading to infection dissemination and drug resistance. A general lack of facile and long-term strategies to effectively eliminate intracellular MRSA. In this study, glabridin (GLA)-loaded pH-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) were constructed using cinnamaldehyde (CA)-dextran conjugates as carriers. These NPs targeted infected macrophages/MRSA via dextran mediation and effectively accumulated at the MRSA infection site. The NPs were then destabilized in response to the low pH of the lysosomes, which triggered the release of CA and GLA. The released CA downregulated the expression of cytotoxic pore-forming toxins, thereby decreasing the damage of macrophage and risk of the intracellular bacterial dissemination. Meanwhile, GLA could rapidly kill intracellularly entrapped MRSA with a low possibility of developing resistance. Using a specific combination of the natural antibacterial agents CA and GLA, NPs effectively eradicated intracellular MRSA with low toxicity to normal tissues in a MRSA-induced peritonitis model. This strategy presents a potential alternative for enhancing intracellular MRSA therapy, particularly for repeated and long-term clinical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Intracellular MRSA infections are a growing threat to public health, and there is a general lack of a facile strategy for efficiently eliminating intracellular MRSA while reducing the ever-increasing drug resistance. In this study, pH-responsive and macrophage/MRSA-targeting nanoparticles were prepared by conjugating the phytochemical cinnamaldehyde to dextran to encapsulate the natural antibacterial agent glabridin. Using a combination of traditional Chinese medicine, the NPs significantly increased drug accumulation in MRSA and showed superior intracellular and extracellular bactericidal activity. Importantly, the NPs can inhibit potential intracellular bacteria dissemination and reduce the development of drug resistance, thus allowing for repeated treatment. Natural antibacterial agent-based drug delivery systems are an attractive alternative for facilitating the clinical treatment of intracellular MRSA infections.

The potential application of encapsulated exosomes: A new approach to increase exosomes therapeutic efficacy

Cell therapy is one of the methods that have shown promising results in treating diseases in recent decades. However, the use of different types of cells comes with limitations. The application of immune cells in cell therapy can lead to cytokine storms and inappropriate responses to self-antigens. Also, the use of stem cells has the potential to create tumors. Also, cells may not migrate to the injury site after intravenous injection. Therefore, using exosomes from different cells as therapeutic candidates were proposed. Due to their small size and favorable characteristics, such as biocompatibility and immunocompatibility, the easy storage and isolation, exosomes have attracted much attention. They are used in treating many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, orthopedic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, the results of various studies have shown that the therapeutic efficiency of exosomes (Exo) can be increased by loading different drugs and microRNAs inside them (encapsulated exosomes). Therefore, analyzing studies investigating encapsulated exosomes' therapeutic ability is critical. In this study, we have examined the studies related to the use of encapsulated exosomes in treating diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases and their use in regenerative medicine. Compared to intact exosomes, the results show that the application of encapsulated exosomes has a higher therapeutic ability. Therefore it is suggested to use this method depending on the treatment type to increase the treatment's efficiency.

Current Strategies for Exosome Cargo Loading and Targeting Delivery

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as ectosomes and exosomes have gained attention as promising natural carriers for drug delivery. Exosomes, which range from 30 to 100 nm in diameter, possess a lipid bilayer and are secreted by various cells. Due to their high biocompatibility, stability, and low immunogenicity, exosomes are favored as cargo carriers. The lipid bilayer membrane of exosomes also offers protection against cargo degradation, making them a desirable candidate for drug delivery. However, loading cargo into exosomes remains to be a challenge. Despite various strategies such as incubation, electroporation, sonication, extrusion, freeze-thaw cycling, and transfection that have been developed to facilitate cargo loading, inadequate efficiency still persists. This review offers an overview of current cargo delivery strategies using exosomes and summarizes recent approaches for loading small-molecule, nucleic acid, and protein drugs into exosomes. With insights from these studies, we provide ideas for more efficient and effective delivery of drug molecules by using exosomes.

Regulation of adipogenesis by exosomal milk miRNA

Milk is a rich source of miRNA packaged in exosomes. Evidence for the systemic uptake and tissue distribution of milk exosomes was reported in newborn and adult humans and animals. Breastfeeding in infants was associated with a reduced risk of obesity. Numerous adipogenesis-related miRNAs have been detected in human milk exosomes. It has been demonstrated that ingested exosomal milk miRNAs may alter gene expression in offspring to regulate their metabolism and growth. In humans, consumption of other species' milk, such as cows and goats, is continued through adulthood. Since miRNAs are conserved, the concern of cross-species transfer of adipogenic miRNA has been raised in recent years, and the increase in obesity worldwide was attributed partially to dairy milk consumption by humans. However, evidence is still weak. Research emphasizes the need for an adequate number of exosomal milk's miRNAs to reach the target cell for biological action to be achieved. It was reported that obese women's milk had less miRNA-148a and miRNA-30b, which may affect the fat acquisition of their babies. Some exosomal milk miRNAs, such as miRNA-29, miRNA-148, miRNA-30b and miRNA-125b, may have epigenetic effects on milk recipients. Moreover, the ability of milk exosomes to cross the gastrointestinal barrier makes them a promising oral drug delivery tool. Yet, exosomes may also be tagged with specific ligands which target certain tissues. Thus, milk exosomes can be engineered and loaded with certain miRNAs responsible for adipocyte differentiation, conversion, or browning. Modifications in the miRNA cargo of exosomes can benefit human health and be an alternative to traditional drugs.

Glioblastoma-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles: Nanoparticles for Glioma Treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM), characterized by fast growth and invasion into adjacent tissue, is the most aggressive cancer of brain origin. Current protocols, which include cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, effectively treat localized disease; however, these aggressive therapies present side effects due to the high doses administered. Therefore, more efficient ways of drug delivery have been studied to reduce the therapeutic exposure of the patients. We have isolated and fully characterized small extracellular vesicles (EVs) from seven patient-derived GBM cell lines. After loading them with two different drugs, Temozolomide (TMZ) and EPZ015666, we observed a reduction in the total amount of drugs needed to trigger an effect on tumor cells. Moreover, we observed that GBM-derived small EVs, although with lower target specificity, can induce an effect on pancreatic cancer cell death. These results suggest that GBM-derived small EVs represent a promising drug delivery tool for further preclinical studies and potentially for the clinical development of GBM treatments.

Cell-Derived Vesicles for Antibiotic Delivery-Understanding the Challenges of a Biogenic Carrier System

Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) sparked substantial therapeutic interest, particularly due to their ability to mediate targeted transport between tissues and cells. Yet, EVs' technological translation as therapeutics strongly depends on better biocompatibility assessments in more complex models and elementary in vitro-in vivo correlation, and comparison of mammalian versus bacterial vesicles. With this in mind, two new types of EVs derived from human B-lymphoid cells with low immunogenicity and from non-pathogenic myxobacteria SBSr073 are introduced here. A large-scale isolation protocol to reduce plastic waste and cultivation space toward sustainable EV research is established. The biocompatibility of mammalian and bacterial EVs is comprehensively evaluated using cytokine release and endotoxin assays in vitro, and an in vivo zebrafish larvae model is applied. A complex three-dimensional human cell culture model is used to understand the spatial distribution of vesicles in epithelial and immune cells and again used zebrafish larvae to study the biodistribution in vivo. Finally, vesicles are successfully loaded with the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CPX) and showed lower toxicity in zebrafish larvae than free CPX. The loaded vesicles are then tested effectively on enteropathogenic Shigella, whose infections are currently showing increasing resistance against available antibiotics.

Endogenous Lipid Carriers-Bench-to-Bedside Roadblocks in Production and Drug Loading of Exosomes

Exosomes are cell-derived, nano-sized extracellular vesicles comprising a lipid bilayer membrane that encapsulates several biological components, such as nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins. The role of exosomes in cell-cell communication and cargo transport has made them promising candidates in drug delivery for an array of diseases. Despite several research and review papers describing the salient features of exosomes as nanocarriers for drug delivery, there are no FDA-approved commercial therapeutics based on exosomes. Several fundamental challenges, such as the large-scale production and reproducibility of batches, have hindered the bench-to-bedside translation of exosomes. In fact, compatibility and poor drug loading sabotage the possibility of delivering several drug molecules. This review provides an overview of the challenges and summarizes the potential solutions/approaches to facilitate the clinical development of exosomal nanocarriers.

Exosomes: from biology to immunotherapy in infectious diseases

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles derived from the endosomal compartment, which are released by all kinds of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. These vesicles contain a variety of biomolecules that differ both in quantity and type depending on the origin and cellular state. Exosomes are internalized by recipient cells, delivering their content and thus contributing to cell-cell communication in health and disease. During infections exosomes may exert a dual role, on one hand, they can transmit pathogen-related molecules mediating further infection and damage, and on the other hand, they can protect the host by activating the immune response and reducing pathogen spread. Selective packaging of pathogenic components may mediate these effects. Recently, quantitative analysis of samples by omics technologies has allowed a deep characterization of the proteins, lipids, RNA, and metabolite cargoes of exosomes. Knowledge about the content of these vesicles may facilitate their therapeutic application. Furthermore, as exosomes have been detected in almost all biological fluids, pathogenic or host-derived components can be identified in liquid biopsies, making them suitable for diagnosis and prognosis. This review attempts to organize the recent findings on exosome composition and function during viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoan infections, and their contribution to host defense or to pathogen spread. Moreover, we summarize the current perspectives and future directions regarding the potential application of exosomes for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.

Angiopep-2 Modified Exosomes Load Rifampicin with Potential for Treating Central Nervous System Tuberculosis

Background

Central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS-TB) is the most devastating form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Rifampin (RIF) is a first-line antimicrobial agent with potent bactericidal action. Nonetheless, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the therapeutic effects on CNS-TB. Exosomes, however, can facilitate drug movements across the BBB. In addition, exosomes show high biocompatibility and drug-loading capacity. They can also be modified to increase drug delivery efficacy. In this study, we loaded RIF into exosomes and modified the exosomes with a brain-targeting peptide to improve BBB permeability of RIF; we named these exosomes ANG-Exo-RIF.

Methods

Exosomes were isolated from the culture medium of BMSCs by differential ultracentrifugation and loaded RIF by electroporation and modified ANG by chemical reaction. To characterize ANG-Exo-RIF, Western blot (WB), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed. Bend.3 cells were incubated with DiI labeled ANG-Exo-RIF and then fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the targeting ability of ANG-Exo-RIF in vitro. Fluorescence imaging and frozen section were used to evaluate the targeting ability of ANG-Exo-RIF in vivo. MIC and MBC were determined through microplate alamar blue assay (MABA).

Results

A novel exosome-based nanoparticle was developed. Compared with untargeted exosomes, the targeted exosomes exhibited high targeting capacity and permeability in vitro and in vivo. The MIC and MBC of ANG-Exo-RIF were 0.25 μg/mL, which were sufficient to meet the clinical needs.

Conclusion

In summary, excellent targeting ability, high antitubercular activity and biocompatibility endow ANG-Exo-RIF with potential for use in future translation-aimed research and provide hope for an effective CNS-TB treatment.

Nanocarriers for the delivery of antibiotics into cells against intracellular bacterial infection

The barrier function of host cells enables intracellular bacteria to evade the lethality of the host immune system and antibiotics, thereby causing chronic and recurrent infections that seriously threaten human health. Currently, the main clinical strategy for the treatment of intracellular bacterial infections involves the use of long-term and high-dose antibiotics. However, insufficient intracellular delivery of antibiotics along with various resistance mechanisms not only weakens the efficacy of current therapies but also causes serious adverse drug reactions, further increasing the disease and economic burden. Improving the delivery efficiency, intracellular accumulation, and action time of antibiotics remains the most economical and effective way to treat intracellular bacterial infections. The rapid development of nanotechnology provides a strategy to efficiently deliver antibiotics against intracellular bacterial infections into cells. In this review, we summarize the types of common intracellular pathogens, the difficulties faced by antibiotics in the treatment of intracellular bacterial infections, and the research progress of several types of representative nanocarriers for the delivery of antibiotics against intracellular bacterial infections that have emerged in recent years. This review is expected to provide a reference for further elucidating the intracellular transport mechanism of nanocarrier-drug complexes, designing safer and more effective nanocarriers and establishing new strategies against intracellular bacterial infection.

Exosomes and mimics as novel delivery platform for cancer therapy

Exosomes are nano-sized biological extracellular vesicles transmitting information between cells and constituting a new intercellular communication mode. Exosomes have many advantages as an ideal drug delivery nanocarrier, including good biocompatibility, permeability, low toxicity, and low immunogenicity. Recently, exosomes have been used to deliver chemotherapeutic agents, natural drugs, nucleic acid drugs, and other antitumor drugs to treat many types of tumors. Due to the limited production of exosomes, synthetic exosome-mimics have been developed as an ideal platform for drug delivery. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of exosomes and exosome-mimics delivering therapeutic drugs in treating cancers.

Strategies and progresses for enhancing targeted antibiotic delivery

Antibiotic resistance is a global health issue and a potential risk for society. Antibiotics administered through conventional formulations are devoid of targeting effect and often spread to various undesired body sites, leading to sub-lethal concentrations at the site of action and thus resulting in emergence of resistance, as well as side effects. Moreover, we have a very slim antibiotic pipeline. Drug-delivery systems have been designed to control the rate, time, and site of drug release, and innovative approaches for antibiotic delivery provide a glint of hope for addressing these issues. This review elaborates different delivery strategies and approaches employed to overcome the limitations of conventional antibiotic therapy. These include antibiotic conjugates, prodrugs, and nanocarriers for local and targeted antibiotic release. In addition, a wide range of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and biological carriers for targeted antibiotic delivery are discussed. The potential advantages and limitations of targeted antibiotic delivery strategies are described along with possible solutions to avoid these limitations. A number of antibiotics successfully delivered through these approaches with attained outcomes and potentials are reviewed.

Can intracellular Staphylococcus aureus in osteomyelitis be treated using current antibiotics? A systematic review and narrative synthesis

Approximately 40% of treatments of chronic and recurrent osteomyelitis fail in part due to bacterial persistence. Staphylococcus aureus, the predominant pathogen in human osteomyelitis, is known to persist by phenotypic adaptation as small-colony variants (SCVs) and by formation of intracellular reservoirs, including those in major bone cell types, reducing susceptibility to antibiotics. Intracellular infections with S. aureus are difficult to treat; however, there are no evidence-based clinical guidelines addressing these infections in osteomyelitis. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to determine the demonstrated efficacy of all antibiotics against intracellular S. aureus relevant to osteomyelitis, including protein biosynthesis inhibitors (lincosamides, streptogramins, macrolides, oxazolidines, tetracyclines, fusidic acid, and aminoglycosides), enzyme inhibitors (fluoroquinolones and ansamycines), and cell wall inhibitors (beta-lactam inhibitors, glycopeptides, fosfomycin, and lipopeptides). The PubMed and Embase databases were screened for articles related to intracellular S. aureus infections that compared the effectiveness of multiple antibiotics or a single antibiotic together with another treatment, which resulted in 34 full-text articles fitting the inclusion criteria. The combined findings of these studies were largely inconclusive, most likely due to the plethora of methodologies utilized. Therefore, the reported findings in the context of the models employed and possible solutions for improved understanding are explored here. While rifampicin, oritavancin, linezolid, moxifloxacin and oxacillin were identified as the most effective potential intracellular treatments, the scientific evidence for these is still relatively weak. We advocate for more standardized research on determining the intracellular effectiveness of antibiotics in S. aureus osteomyelitis to improve treatments and patient outcomes.

Immune Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in the Face of Pathogenic Infections

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are a collection of vesicles released from cells that play an important role in intercellular communication. Microbial infections are known as one of the major problems in the medical field. Considering the increasing resistance of strains to routine drug treatments, the need for new therapies seems to be more than ever. Recent studies have shown that the EVs released from immune cells during microbial infections had anti-microbial effects or were able to induce neighbouring cells to display anti-microbial effects. This mini-review aimed to explore the latest studies on immune cell-derived EVs in viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. Review of the literature demonstrated that specific cargos in EVs were involved in the fight against pathogenic infections. Additionally, the transport of appropriate bioactive molecules including miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins via EVs could mediate the anti-microbial process. Thus, it could be a proof-of-principle that therapeutic approaches based on EVs derived from immune cells could offer a promising path forward, which is still in early stages and needs further assessments.

Extracellular Vesicles: Recent Insights Into the Interaction Between Host and Pathogenic Bacteria

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized lipid particles released by virtually every living cell. EVs carry bioactive molecules, shuttle from cells to cells and transduce signals, regulating cell growth and metabolism. Pathogenic bacteria can cause serious infections via a wide range of strategies, and host immune systems also develop extremely complex adaptations to counteract bacterial infections. As notable carriers, EVs take part in the interaction between the host and bacteria in several approaches. For host cells, several strategies have been developed to resist bacteria via EVs, including expelling damaged membranes and bacteria, neutralizing toxins, triggering innate immune responses and provoking adaptive immune responses in nearly the whole body. For bacteria, EVs function as vehicles to deliver toxins and contribute to immune escape. Due to their crucial functions, EVs have great application potential in vaccines, diagnosis and treatments. In the present review, we highlight the most recent advances, application potential and remaining challenges in understanding EVs in the interaction between the host and bacteria.

Photoinactivation of catalase sensitizes wide-ranging bacteria to ROS-producing agents and immune cells

Bacteria have evolved to cope with the detrimental effects of ROS using their essential molecular components. Catalase, a heme-containing tetramer protein expressed universally in most aerobic bacteria, plays an indispensable role in scavenging excess hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Here, through use of wild-type and catalase-deficient mutants, we identified catalase as an endogenous therapeutic target of 400–420 nm blue light. Catalase residing inside bacteria could be effectively inactivated by blue light, subsequently rendering the pathogens extremely vulnerable to H₂O₂ and H₂O₂-producing agents. As a result, photoinactivation of catalase and H₂O₂ synergistically eliminated a wide range of catalase-positive planktonic bacteria and P. aeruginosa inside biofilms. In addition, photoinactivation of catalase was shown to facilitate macrophage defense against intracellular pathogens. The antimicrobial efficacy of catalase photoinactivation was validated using a Pseudomonas aeruginosa–induced mouse abrasion model. Taken together, our findings offer a catalase-targeting phototherapy approach against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Strategies for High-Efficiency Mutation Using the CRISPR/Cas System

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated systems have revolutionized traditional gene-editing tools and are a significant tool for ameliorating gene defects. Characterized by high target specificity, extraordinary efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, CRISPR/Cas systems have displayed tremendous potential for genetic manipulation in almost any organism and cell type. Despite their numerous advantages, however, CRISPR/Cas systems have some inherent limitations, such as off-target effects, unsatisfactory efficiency of delivery, and unwanted adverse effects, thereby resulting in a desire to explore approaches to address these issues. Strategies for improving the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas-induced mutations, such as reducing off-target effects, improving the design and modification of sgRNA, optimizing the editing time and the temperature, choice of delivery system, and enrichment of sgRNA, are comprehensively described in this review. Additionally, several newly emerging approaches, including the use of Cas variants, anti-CRISPR proteins, and mutant enrichment, are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the authors provide a deep analysis of the current challenges in the utilization of CRISPR/Cas systems and the future applications of CRISPR/Cas systems in various scenarios. This review not only serves as a reference for improving the maturity of CRISPR/Cas systems but also supplies practical guidance for expanding the applicability of this technology.

Stem Cell-Derived Exosome as Potential Therapeutics for Microbial Diseases

Exosomes, as the smallest extracellular vesicles that carry a cargo of nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins and mediate intercellular communication, have attracted much attention in diagnosis and treatment in the field of medicine. The contents of exosomes vary depending on the cell type and physiological conditions. Among exosomes derived from several cell types, stem cell-derived exosomes (stem cell-Exo) are increasingly being explored due to their immunomodulatory properties, regenerative capacity, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial functions. Administration of stem cell-Exo, as a cell-free therapy for various diseases, has gained great promise. Indeed, the advantages of exosomes secreted from stem cells outweigh those of their parent cells owing to their small size, high stability, less immunogenicity, no risk of tumorigenesis, and easier condition for storage. Recently, the use of stem cell-Exo has been proposed in the field of microbial diseases. Pathogens including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can cause various diseases in humans with acute and chronic complications, sometimes resulting in mortality. On the other hand, treatments based on antibiotics and other chemical compounds have many side effects and the strains become resistant to drugs in some cases. Hence, this review aimed to highlight the effect of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles including stem cell-Exo on microbial diseases. Although most published studies are preclinical, the avenue of clinical application of stem cell-Exo is under way to reach clinical applications. The challenges ahead of this cell-free treatment that might be applied as a therapeutic alternative to stem cells for translation from bench to bed were emphasized, as well.

Exosomes: A Tool for Bone Tissue Engineering

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been repeatedly shown to be a valuable source for cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine, including bony tissue repair. However, engraftment at the injury site is poor. Recently, it has been suggested that MSCs and other cells act through a paracrine signaling mechanism. Exosomes are nanostructures that have been implicated in this process. They carry DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids and play an important role in cell-to-cell communication directly modulating their target cell at a transcriptional level. In a bone microenvironment, they have been shown to increase osteogenesis and osteogenic differentiation in vivo and in vitro. In the following review, we will discuss the most advanced and significant knowledge of biological functions of exosomes in bone regeneration and their clinical applications in osseous diseases. Impact statement Mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to be a promising tool in bone tissue engineering. Recently, it has been suggested that they secrete exosomes containing messenger RNA, proteins, and lipids, thus acting through paracrine signaling mechanisms. Considering that exosomes are nonteratogenic and have low immunogenic potential, they could potentially replace stem-cell based therapy and thus eradicate the risk of neoplastic transformation associated with cell transplantations in bone regeneration.