Poly-ε-caprolactone Nanoparticles Loaded with 4-Nerolidylcatechol (4-NC) for Growth Inhibition of Microsporum canis

Antimicrobial Potential of Cannabinoids: A Scoping Review of the Past 5 Years

In the scenario of fighting bacterial resistance to antibiotics, natural products have been extensively investigated for their potential antibacterial activities. Among these, cannabinoids-bioactive compounds derived from cannabis-have garnered attention for their diverse biological activities, including anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Emerging evidence suggests that cannabinoids may also possess significant antimicrobial properties, with potential applications in enhancing the efficacy of conventional antimicrobial agents. Therefore, this review examines evidence from the past five years on the antimicrobial properties of cannabinoids, focusing on underlying mechanisms such as microbial membrane disruption, immune response modulation, and interference with microbial virulence factors. In addition, their synergistic potential, when used alongside standard therapies, underscores their promise as a novel strategy to address drug resistance, although further research and clinical trials are needed to validate their therapeutic use. Overall, cannabinoids offer a promising avenue for the development of innovative treatments to combat drug-resistant infections and reduce the reliance on traditional antimicrobial agents.

Development and Evaluation of the Acaricidal Activity of Xantan Gum-Based Hydrogel and Polymeric Nanoparticles Containing Achyrocline satureioides Extract

The Rhipicephalus microplus tick causes enormous economic losses in livestock farming around the world. Despite several promising studies carried out with plant extracts such as Achyrocline satureioides against this ectoparasite, a major obstacle is related to pharmaceutical presentation forms. There is no study showing xantan gum-based hydrogel and polycaprolactone nanoparticles containing A. satureioides extract against R. microplus larvae. The objective of this study was to incorporate A. satureioides extract to develop a nanoformulation (AScn) and a hydrogel (ASlh) and evaluate them against R. microplus larvae with the purpose of increasing the contact time of the extract with the larvae and improve the effectiveness. The ethanolic extracts were incorporated in polycaprolactone nanoparticles and characterized via analysis of the mean hydrodinamic diameter and polidispersity index. The xanthan gum-based hydrogel formulation was prepared with crude extract of A. satureioides 40 mg/mL, 0.25% xanthan gum, and 8% poloxamer, to determine the bioadhesiveness of the formulation in bovine leather and the flow rate of the formulation in the animal. The results in larvae demonstrated that when evaluated in the form of a hydrogel (ASlh), mortality was higher, with 91.48% mortality at a concentration of 20 mg/mL presenting itself as an interesting alternative for controlling this ectoparasite.

Emerging Polymer-Based Nanosystem Strategies in the Delivery of Antifungal Drugs

Nanosystems-based antifungal agents have emerged as an effective strategy to address issues related to drug resistance, drug release, and toxicity. Among the diverse materials employed for antifungal drug delivery, polymers, including polysaccharides, proteins, and polyesters, have gained significant attention due to their versatility. Considering the complex nature of fungal infections and their varying sites, it is crucial for researchers to carefully select appropriate polymers based on specific scenarios when designing antifungal agent delivery nanosystems. This review provides an overview of the various types of nanoparticles used in antifungal drug delivery systems, with a particular emphasis on the types of polymers used. The review focuses on the application of drug delivery systems and the release behavior of these systems. Furthermore, the review summarizes the critical physical properties and relevant information utilized in antifungal polymer nanomedicine delivery systems and briefly discusses the application prospects of these systems.

Succinyl Chitosan-Colistin Conjugates as Promising Drug Delivery Systems

The growth of microbial multidrug resistance is a problem in modern clinical medicine. Chemical modification of active pharmaceutical ingredients is an attractive strategy to improve their biopharmaceutical properties by increasing bioavailability and reducing drug toxicity. Conjugation of antimicrobial drugs with natural polysaccharides provides high efficiency of these systems due to targeted delivery, controlled drug release and reduced toxicity. This paper reports a two-step synthesis of colistin conjugates (CT) with succinyl chitosan (SucCS); first, we modified chitosan with succinyl anhydride to introduce a carboxyl function into the polymer molecule, which was then used for chemical grafting with amino groups of the peptide antibiotic CT using carbodiimide chemistry. The resulting polymeric delivery systems had a degree of substitution (DS) by CT of 3-8%, with conjugation efficiencies ranging from 54 to 100% and CT contents ranging from 130-318 μg/mg. The size of the obtained particles was 100-200 nm, and the ζ-potential varied from -22 to -28 mV. In vitro release studies at pH 7.4 demonstrated ultra-slow hydrolysis of amide bonds, with a CT release of 0.1-0.5% after 12 h; at pH 5.2, the hydrolysis rate slightly increased; however, it remained extremely low (1.5% of CT was released after 12 h). The antimicrobial activity of the conjugates depended on the DS. At DS 8%, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the conjugate was equal to the MIC of native CT (1 µg/mL); at DS of 3 and 5%, the MIC increased 8-fold. In addition, the developed systems reduced CT nephrotoxicity by 20-60%; they also demonstrated the ability to reduce bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in vitro. Thus, these promising CT-SucCS conjugates are prospective for developing safe and effective nanoantibiotics.

Continuous Nanoprecipitation of Polycaprolactone in Additively Manufactured Micromixers

The polymeric ouzo effect is an energy-efficient and robust method to create nanoparticles with biologically degradable polymers. Usually, a discontinuous or semi-continuous process is employed due to its low technical effort and the fact that the amount of dispersions needed in a laboratory is relatively small. However, the number of particles produced in this method is not enough to make this process economically feasible. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the productivity of the process and create a controllable and robust continuous process with the potential to control parameters, such as the particle size or surface properties. In this study, nanoparticles were formulated from polycaprolactone (PCL) in a continuous process using additively manufactured micromixers. The main goal was to be able to exert control on the particle parameters in terms of size and zeta potential. The results showed that particle size could be adjusted in the range of 130 to 465 nm by using different flow rates of the organic and aqueous phase and varying concentrations of PCL dissolved in the organic phase. Particle surface charge was successfully shifted from a slightly negative potential of −14.1 mV to a negative, positive, or neutral value applying the appropriate surfactant. In summary, a continuous process of nanoprecipitation not only improves the cost of the method, but furthermore increases the control over the particle’s parameters.

Modulation of Bovine Endometrial Cell Receptors and Signaling Pathways as a Nanotherapeutic Exploration against Dairy Cow Postpartum Endometritis

Simple Summary

The provision of updated information on the molecular pathogenesis of bovine endometritis with host-pathogen interactions and the possibility of exploring the cellular sensors mechanism in a nanotechnology-based drug delivery system against persistent endometritis were reported in this review. The mechanism of Gram-negative bacteria and their ligands has been vividly explored, with the paucity of research detail on Gram-positive bacteria in bovine endometritis. The function of cell receptors, biomolecules proteins, and sensors were reportedly essential in transferring signals into cell signaling pathways to induce immuno-inflammatory responses by elevating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, understanding endometrial cellular components and signaling mechanisms across pathogenesis are essential for nanotherapeutic exploration against bovine endometritis. The nanotherapeutic discovery that could inhibit infectious signals at the various cell receptors and signal transduction levels, interfering with transcription factors activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines and gene expression, significantly halts endometritis.

Abstract

In order to control and prevent bovine endometritis, there is a need to understand the molecular pathogenesis of the infectious disease. Bovine endometrium is usually invaded by a massive mobilization of microorganisms, especially bacteria, during postpartum dairy cows. Several reports have implicated the Gram-negative bacteria in the pathogenesis of bovine endometritis, with information dearth on the potentials of Gram-positive bacteria and their endotoxins. The invasive bacteria and their ligands pass through cellular receptors such as TLRs, NLRs, and biomolecular proteins of cells activate the specific receptors, which spontaneously stimulates cellular signaling pathways like MAPK, NF-kB and sequentially triggers upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The cascade of inflammatory induction involves a dual signaling pathway; the transcription factor NF-κB is released from its inhibitory molecule and can bind to various inflammatory genes promoter. The MAPK pathways are concomitantly activated, leading to specific phosphorylation of the NF-κB. The provision of detailed information on the molecular pathomechanism of bovine endometritis with the interaction between host endometrial cells and invasive bacteria in this review would widen the gap of exploring the potential of receptors and signal transduction pathways in nanotechnology-based drug delivery system. The nanotherapeutic discovery of endometrial cell receptors, signal transduction pathway, and cell biomolecules inhibitors could be developed for strategic inhibition of infectious signals at the various cell receptors and signal transduction levels, interfering on transcription factors activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines and genes expression, which may significantly protect endometrium against postpartum microbial invasion.

Fate of Biodegradable Engineered Nanoparticles Used in Veterinary Medicine as Delivery Systems from a One Health Perspective

The field of veterinary medicine needs new solutions to address the current challenges of antibiotic resistance and the need for increased animal production. In response, a multitude of delivery systems have been developed in the last 20 years in the form of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), a subclass of which are polymeric, biodegradable ENPs, that are biocompatible and biodegradable (pbENPs). These platforms have been developed to deliver cargo, such as antibiotics, vaccines, and hormones, and in general, have been shown to be beneficial in many regards, particularly when comparing the efficacy of the delivered drugs to that of the conventional drug applications. However, the fate of pbENPs developed for veterinary applications is poorly understood. pbENPs undergo biotransformation as they are transferred from one ecosystem to another, and these transformations greatly affect their impact on health and the environment. This review addresses nanoparticle fate and impact on animals, the environment, and humans from a One Health perspective.